Stromso star harp

Alternate name(s)

Fretless zither
Harp zither
Zither, chord, without melody strings
Chord zither
Swedish harp

Maker E. G. Lundquist & Co.

Maker Eric G. Lundquist

Date1920-1950 ca.

Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America

ModelStromso Star Harp

Serial No.4.0F.1.Ch

SignedSoundhole label: yellow rectangular paper label with red border; inside border in red printed: THE STROMSO STAR HARP / E.G. LUNDQUIST & CO. / 5209 Broadway / CHICAGO / PATENTED / No. [written in black ink:] 4.0F.1.Ch / 4.0F.1.Ch
Markingsnone
DescriptionStrings: 124 metals strings grouped into 27 chords; strings arranged into 4 sets with bass
strings on the left of each set with higher strings on the right of each set
Body:
Top: hollow body; 4 triangular pieces of aluminum function as soundboards and anchor higher strings of each set; each chord labeled on soundboards
Back: black-painted spruce
Sides: aluminum frame; solid aluminum pin block on top side; steel handle on top side
Nut: single piece aluminum saddle attached to top of pin block; all strings originate at same nut and terminate at different bridges
Bridge: 24 aluminum bridges; 1 long bridge at base of instrument where bass strings terminate; 23 small bridges attached to triangular soundboards; two small holes behind each bridge where higher strings terminate
Tuning Pins: 124 steel tuning pins
Table-top Rests: 3 black-painted hardwood rests on back, attached to aluminum frame
DimensionsBody length: 490 mm / 19.3 inches
Body width: 415 mm / 16.3 inches
Body height: 72 mm / 2.8 inches
Bass string vibrating length: 451 mm / 17.8 inches
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Published ReferencesSilva, Ana Sofia. "Digging the Fifties: A Curatorial Perspective on 50 Objects from the NMM Collections." NMM Notes (October 2023): 26-27.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number04950

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