Beautiful instrument but unknown function

KayKane

New member
Hi everyone, I've enjoyed reading your posts and I'm pretty much an amateur but my late husband collected all sorts of things, especially musical instruments and sheet music. I have one beautifully carved instrument that I haven't a clue what it is. Does anyone know its function? Or name? etc.
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wljmrbill

Member
Very interesting.. I see 4 strings with tunning knobs. I have no real idea of what it is.. maybe atunning device, a pitch pipe, early harp Maybe someone has a concept too.. Thanks.
 

teddy

Duckmeister
Hello Kaykane and welcome to the forum. We are all amateurs here at something or other.
Assuming that this could not be a walking stick of some sort? What are the dimensions?
Would love to know what it is

teddy
 

GoneBaroque

New member
Yes, welcome to the forum KayKane. Lovely pictures. There could be provision for five strings. It could be helpful to know its dimensions and geographic origin if possible. Hopefully the accumulated knowledge of our members will come up with an answer.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
I will roughly guesstimate that it is a type of Psaltery - One that could give an intonation for a reader of Rhyming Verse.
 

teddy

Duckmeister
Yes I thought that.

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teddy
 

marval

New member
Hello, and welcome to the forum.

It looks very interesting, but what it is I cannot say.


Margaret
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Yes I thought that.

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teddy

Look up psaltery - Its really a rudimentary stringed instrument........
 

John Watt

Member
This looks like a bow, like a violin bow, with resonating strings.
An old bow doesn't need hair or filaments, it can just be a bough.
Bough, and then bow. Like bows in your hair and bow-ties. Additions.
The resonating strings might be as loud as the instrument,
with only a piece of bough for what might not have strings.
Anyone here saw any music, lately?
an... an... anna... yeah, an I doan bough down fer nuttin'er no body.
I let the squirrels make my acorny deposits for me.
 

John Watt

Member
I think the one in Phoenix features barbed wire from the first Apache reservation,
a totally different tone and cultural expression.
This rez instrument was noted for being used mainly with a rough, raking motion.
 
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