'Ud
Alternate name(s)
- Short-neck lute
Date1850-1900 ca.
Place MadeSyria, Asia
Place MadeAfrica
Place MadeIraq, Asia
Modelnone
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsnone
DescriptionThe back is constructed of fifteen ribs of alternating dark and light (lemon?) wood, the latter edged with ebony stringing. The distal ends of the ribs radiate from a semicircular piece of wood, at right-angles to the table, which is made of one piece of softwood with modern purfling extending beyond the corners of the lower bouts. An inappropriate wooden peg has been fixed at the centre of the bottom edge.
The scratchplate is of symetrical, lobed outline.
The tied bridge is pierced with holes for six double courses of strings.
The finely carved rose of softwood (cypress?), the pattern resembling a series of arrowheads radiating from the centre with two concentric circles and an outer a border of arabesques and "fleurs de lys".
The neck with inlaid ebony fingerboard edged with two bands of (lemon ?) wood stringing.
The S-shaped peg-box with holes for eleven pegs: five double and one single course of strings. Four of the laterally-inserted perforate pegs are new (made by G. M. Stewart). A hole at the top of the pegbox for a ribbon has been blocked off. The small finial at the top of the pegbox is probably a later repair.
Notwithstanding the disposition of the peg-holes and the holes on the bridge, `uds of this date were often pegged for five double courses of strings only; the extra hole or holes were left without pegs or strings.
DimensionsOverall length: 805 mm
Overall length of body: 504 mm
Overall width of table: 360 mm
Overall depth of body: 197 mm
Length of neck (excluding nut): 197 mm
Length of neck (excluding nut and stringing): 194 mm
Length of neck (with nut): 202 mm
Length, base edge of body to center of rose: 300 mm
Length, bridge (end of sounding length of strings) to centre of rose: 212 mm
Length, top of neck to center of rose: 407 mm
Length, base edge of body to block: 473 mm approx.
Height of lower bridge: 7 mm
Height of (new) upper bridge: 2 mm
Sounding length of strings: 610 mm
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number01512
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