Skip to main content

Langeleik

Alternate name(s)
  • Fretted zither
Date1800-1850 ca.
Place MadeNorway, Europe
Modelnone
Serial No.none
Signednone
MarkingsBurned into the side: 36 S n S
Descriptionmaterial: wood (sound box, pegs, nut/saddle, frets); wire (strings)
body: wooden, box body expands gradually from pegbox to saddle; top and sides meet flush, no bottom; top and sides extend beyond end block at saddle end; two incised lines at both the top and the bottom edges of both sidewalls; stained dark brown
braces: two wooden braces attached to underside of top, above and below the sound hole
pegbox: integral to sides of sound box, open top and bottom; holes cut into sides for lateral pegs; hand-carved finial attached perpendicularly to sides - projecting considerably above the height of the sound box
tuning pegs: four turned pegs with articulated grips inserted laterally into peg box; two turned pegs with articulated grips inserted laterally into drone side of sound box (ends visible on opposite side of sound box) - strings attached to these pegs pass through the top of sound box; one of the pegs is quite different than the others
nut/saddle: hand-carved nut and saddle with a small arching protrusion on each end, which extends beyond edge of sound box; grooves in both nut and saddle as a result of string tension
bridge: no extant bridges, however, wear markings on top are consistent with the use of bridges
strings: six wire strings attached at pegs; pass through holes in top, just beyond saddle attached on underside
frets: 16 trapezoidal, wooden frets attached to top, varying heights; slightly rounded
sound hole: “s”-shaped sound hole positioned mid-way down the length of the sound box
DimensionsLength: 907 mm
Width: 78-120 mm
Height: 88.5 mm
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Published References“Gallery I Nears Completion - Displays American Musical Instruments,” Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter (April 1975), p. 2.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number01140
On View
Not on view
Langeleik
Arne B. Larson
1969
Appalachian dulcimer
James Edward Thomas
1912
Langeleik
Larsh Hansen
1900-1920 ca.
Psalmodikon
1790-1850 ca.
We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this site or by closing or clicking "I agree", you agree to the use of cookies. I agree