Images(3)

Psalmodikon

Alternate name(s)

Bowed box zither

Date1875-1900 ca.

Place MadeTrondheim, Norway, Europe

Modelnone

Serial No.none

Signednone
MarkingsWritten in pencil, partially traced with ink, on interior of sound box: (script) Throndheim
Painted in gold-colored lettering above fretboard, between position markings: 6 71 2345671 123456
DescriptionPsalmodikon is the vernacular name in Norwegian and Swedish. Norwegian tradition for psalmodikon practice utilizes the transposition stick or rule, placed above the fretboard to facilitate use in various keys for an array of singing situations. Unlike the Norwegian tradition, Swedish instruments typically do not use the transposition stick, and therefore, the brackets for holding, as well as the wear marks for use of, are not present.

material: wood (sound box, fretboard, and spikes ); metal (frets and end button); resin or hide glue (adhesive); gold-colored paint (adornment)
configuration: two end blocks with thin strips of wood for the table and sides tacked with small wooden spikes; fretboard tacked to table with metal frets; no peg or string
sound box: two end blocks with thin strips for sides and table, extending to be flush with end block; table beveled on side opposite fretboard, perhaps for greater freedom when bowing; hand-carved, wooden spikes driven from table to sides and end block; resin or hide glue adhesive visible; stained
fretboard: narrow strip of wood held in place by frets driven through to tack into table; black, either from paint or wear from use
frets: 27 metal frets pounded into surface of fretboard, corresponding to position markings
position markings: lines in ink or pencil drawn on table to correspond to frets, gold-colored painted numbers for Sifferskrift notation on table with line markings
brackets: missing; unstained sections of wood on table where brackets for securing transposition sticks or rules; one for each end of fretboard
peg: missing; hole for dorsally-inserted peg drilled near end of fretboard with largest intervals between frets; hole passes completely through end block
end button: metal screw inserted into end block opposite peghole for attaching string; positioned on plane perpendicular to table
Dimensionslength: 882 mm (34.7 in)
width: 90 mm (3.5 in)
height (sound box): 48 mm (1.9 in)
diameter of peghole: 9.9 mm (0.39 in)
length of fretboard: 620 mm (24.4 in)
width of fretboard: 20 mm (0.79 in)
length of bow: 773 mm (30.4 in)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number04978

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