Chonguri
ALTERNATE NAME(S)
- Lute
Date1997
Place MadeGeorgia, Europe
SignedBurned into top at lower end: 19 [Georgian letters] 97MarkingsWritten in black ink on white paper label on bass side of pegbox: Chonguri, / Georgien / D, F, d, A / 4 [in circle] 1 [in circle]Written in pencil on lowest peg: 1 A
Written in pencil on second-lowest peg: 3 f
Written in pencil on top peg: 4 D
Written in pencil on neck peg: 4 dDescriptionAccording to Donna Curry, who donated the instrument, it was purchased Swiss friends of hers, when they were doing volunteer work in Georgia following the breakup of the Soviet Union, [who] bought it from a luthier greatly in need of some income. The chonguri is a traditional Caucasian folk instrument with ancient roots. Versions of it are played in Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Stringing: four nylon strings, three the full length of the neck with a short string between upper two strings
Soundboard: three pieces, the center of quarter-cut softwood with wide grain, with two mulberry wings on the sides; lower end covered in decoratively incised mulberry piece with two inlaid light hardwood circles
Bowl: 7 semi-slab-cut mulberry staves
Clasp: mulberry, extends along entire body, with separate piece on end; light hardwood dowel on end to which strings fasten
Head: light hardwood; terminates in abstract animalesque head; dark hardwood dowel set into front of head
Neck: light hardwood; black painted decoration at joint with body
Fingerboard: integral with neck: inlaid with dark and light hardwood circles at top and bottom of fingerboard and an abstract shape and circle at short string position
Nut: dark hardwood for long strings; bone for short string
Bridge: light hardwood; moveable
Tuners: four light hardwood pegs, three in pegbox and one inserted into bass side of neck
Rose: central hole with 16 surrounding holes, with space in between; decorative burned lines around all holes
Finish: clear on back and over burned decoration on top; none elsewhereDimensionsTotal chonguri length: 965 mm
Top length: 436 mm
Maximum body width: 224 mm
Maximum bowl height: 120 mm
Neck length (nut to ribs): 392 mm
Neck width, nut: 36 mm
Neck width, heel: 40 mm
Soundhole diameter: 75 mm
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 738 mm; short string length: 506 mmProvenancePurchased from the maker by Swiss friends of the donor when they were doing volunteer work in Georgia.
Credit LineGift of Donna J. Curry, 2021
Object number15626
On View
Not on view
