Surbahar
Alternate name(s)
- Long-neck lute, plucked
- Bass sitar
Maker
Bina Musical Stores
Date1940-1960 ca.
Place MadeNew Dehli, India, Asia
Modelnone
Serial No.none
SignedDecal applied at top of fingerboard: MUSICAL STORES / BINA / NM SARAK DEHLIMarkingsnone
Description19 moveable steel frets, seven principal strings (five steel and two brass), and eleven sympathetic strings.
Probably a teak neck
Two resonating gourds
Inlaid, incised ivory decoration
Elaborate decoration and carving covers most of the instrument
A large carved peacock covers the head of the instrument with an overall floral and bird motif
Ivory painted in the incised line with red and black
Teak and gourd are stained a deep wine color, and then has been given a light coat of oil or wax.
DimensionsOverall length: 1620 mm
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Published ReferencesThomas E. Cross, Instruments of Burma, India, Nepal, Thailand, and Tibet, Shrine to Music Catalog Vol. II (1982), p. 15.
Thomas E. Cross, Instruments of Burma, India, Nepal, Thailand, and Tibet in the
Collections of the Shrine to Music Museum, MM Thesis, University of South Dakota,
1983, p. 32-33.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number02946
On View
Not on view
1900-1915 ca.
1900-1925 ca.
1885-1899 ca.
1940-1965 ca.