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3-Stringed Instrument

National Museum of Natural History

Object Details

Collector
James G. Swan
Donor Name
James G. Swan
FROM CARD: "MADE OF PINE. THE BODY IS CIRCULAR, THE BACK AND BELLY ARE BOTH FLAT AND OF THIN WOOD. THE SIDES ARE VERTICAL, OF A BENT PIECE OF WOOD. THE NECK IS RATHER LONG, THE FINGERBOARD ON THE SAME PLANE IS THE BELLY. IT HAS 5 GUT FRETS. THE HEAD IS BENT BACK FROM THE NECK AND FITTED WITH 3 VERTICAL TUNING KEYS. THERE IS ALSO A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE NECK 10-1/2 IN. BELOW THE NUT WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN USED WITH A SHORT STRING, BUT IT IS PLACED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NECK. THE TAIL PIECE IS A SHORT STRAP OF LEATHER. IT IS PIERCED WITH FOUR HOLES FOR STRINGS. THE STRINGS AND BRIDGE ARE MISSING. THE BODY IS SIMILAR TO THE CHINESE MOON GUITAR, WHILE THE NECK RESEMBLES THAT OF THE BANJO, THE UPPER END OF WHICH IS BROKEN."
Record Last Modified
14 Apr 2020
Specimen Count
1
Culture
Tlingit
Accession Date
1876
Collection Date
1875
Accession Number
004730
USNM Number
E20792-0
Object Type
Stringed Instrument
Place
Baranof Island / Sitka, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, United States, North America
See more items in
Anthropology
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
Topic
Ethnology
Record ID
nmnhanthropology_8358335
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/355a5be1c-abb8-4e6d-886d-1910b264e4ce

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