Langeleik

ALTERNATE NAME(S)

Fretted zither

Date1900-1920 ca.

Place MadeToten-Eidsvoll, Norway, Europe

Modelnone

Serial No.none

Signednone
MarkingsPencil line drawing of roughly-sketched f-holes, visible only on underside of soundboard, by way of the open back.
Descriptionbody: wooden, body with solid end blocks (integral to both scrolls); sides and top tacked to end blocks with small metal nails; no back; pale, yellowish-green wash or glaze over instrument - body and interior left unfinished
nut/saddle: semi-circular, wooden nut and saddle tacked to over the joint between the soundboard and the end block; much wear on contact point of string and nut/saddle - no nut/saddle wire; grooves present, though may be a result of string tension; small fragments of wood held in place by string tension for two melody strings, most likely compensating for the height of the fretboard/frets
strings: 8 wire strings (two copper, one of which is broken) - 6 drone strings and 2 melody strings (stopped on fretboard); four strings hitched at each end
pegboxes: 2 wooden pegboxes carved out, though not through, allowing access to pegs; integral pegbox/scroll situated on opposite ends, as well as sides of instrument, allowing room for the hitch pins; pegs inserted into both sides of pegbox
tuning pegs: 8, turned, hand-carved, friction pegs - painted black; laterally inserted; two on each side of each of the two pegboxes; string attached through small hole
hitch pins: 8, small, iron nails (of at least three different styles) as hitch pins
fretboard: wooden, rectangular fretboard glued and tacked in place by 16 copper wire frets and one large iron tack; frets either filed down or worn from use, showing patina-free copper finish in some places
sound holes: two, paired, f-holes cut through soundboard between end of fretboard and nut/saddle
Dimensionslength: 46.25 in
width (sound box, not including pegs): 4 in
height (sound box, not including raised saddle/nut): 3.625 in
height (sound box, including raised saddle/nut): 3.875 in
fretboard width: 1.125 in
fretboard length: 27 in
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number04980

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