Shamisen

Alternate name(s)

Long-neck lute
Samisen

Date1900-1915 ca.

Place MadeJapan, Asia

Serial No.none

Signednone
MarkingsCharacter on the red box, character on the inside of the top neck joint, and an adhesive label with four characters on the bottom neck joint.
DescriptionLong necked fretless lute, disassembled in a red wooden box. The square shaped body is covered with white goat skin, which has been slashed open. Instrument comes with three ebony pegs, yellow dyed gut strings, and a plastic bridge. The neck is separated into three parts, which have scarfed joints. The neck actually goes through the body and creates an endpin at the bottom of the body. The neck and body frame are made of either rosewood or red sandalwood. There are grey metal ferrules around the endpin and the peg holes. There is also a red knotted cord through which the strings are run. This knot attaches to the endpin. The top of the neck has a leather like cover on it. This instrument comes with a bachi (large wooden plectrum used to play the instrument), and a red embroidered “cap” to cover the top side of the body when playing.
Body: square red sandalwood or rosewood body, with convex sides; decoratively cast gray metal ferrule around endpin
Neck: neck in three pieces (top with peg box, middle and bottom goes through body) with scarfed joints
Pegs: three fluted ebony
Heads: front and back of body covered in goat skin
DimensionsTotal length: 97 cm
Top part of neck: 37 cm
Middle part of neck: 37.5 cm
Bottom part of neck: 38 cm
Soundbox (lxwxh): 20 cm x 18 cm x 9 cm
Bachi (lxw): 20 cm x 10 cm

Credit LineGift of Clifford A. Allanson, 1983

Object number03184

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