Hammered dulcimer

Date1850-1900 ca.

Place MadeUnited States, North America

Modelnone

Serial No.none

Signednone
MarkingsScratched into paint on back side of dulcimer: HYLAND & Co.
Black lettering on white paper pieces, adhered to both sides of treble bridge (low to high): G A B C D E F G A B C D
Black lettering on white paper pieces, adhered to one side of bass bridge (low to high): D B A G C D F
Black lettering on white paper piece, adhered to additional bass bridge: [indecipherable]
Description12 triple-strung treble courses; 7 plus 1 double-strung bass courses (additional bass course is between the 10/11 treble courses, which is likely later based on the dissimilarity to the other tuning/hitch pins); trapezoidal with sloping pin blocks, wrest/tuning pins to the right; 18 wooden plugs screw-machine made insert pins (wood screws) on backside (9 per side, in random placement near angled edges) and various other plugs around perimeter of case; painted dark green over yellow (possibly over original varnish?); nuts of iron wire; carpenter tacks pounded into case through surface edges; handle screwed to longest edge of case; two circular soundholes; side pieces of even thickness but the outer edge is beveled at an oblique angle to the back/baseboard
Pine (?) soundboard.
One-piece treble bridge and one-piece bass bridge both crenellated with an iron wire set into top; individual block bridge for additional bass string (later); braces directly beneath bridges on underside of soundboard, bass brace extends the length of the bass bridge.
52 tuning pins; 51 hitch pins – some continuous stringing, such that not all hitch pins are used
Small metal bracket near hitch pins on left side with evidence of wear – unknown use. The placement would suggest it was some sort of anchor for a lid string/stop; however, there is little evidence of hinges, save for a missing portion of at center of top case molding
DimensionsBottom: 42-1/4 in (1073 mm)
Top: 20-1/2 in (520 mm)
Angled sides: 18-1/2 in (470 mm)
Depth: 1-3/4 to 2-3/4 in (45 to 70 mm)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number02598

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