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Xiao sanxian

Alternate name(s)

Long-neck spike box lute
Small sanxian

Maker House of Melody

Date1910 ca.

Place MadeJiangnan area, China, Asia

Serial No.none

SignedName of individual maker or company represented by three Chinese characters printed on the paper label on the front of the finial (bottom half of third character missing): "you yang g"
Literal translation: "Melodious two-storey building" i.e. "The House of Melody"
Markingsnone
DescriptionThe body consists of a hardwood shell of oval profile, with veneer applied in three sections to the convex sides. The flat back and table have curved edges, and are open at the center. They are covered with a piece of snakeskin (python?) with a paper backing which is glued to the wood, and encircled by a narrow brass rim. An integral spike extends from the redwood neck, passing through rectangular slots in the proximal and distal ends of the shell, and terminating in a two-pronged foot. The neck extends to a peg-box in the form of a rectangular frame, with six lateral holes for three perforate, conical fluted wooden pegs. The finial flares backwards towards a scroll, consisting of a single whorl carved from a separate piece of wood.
A small ivory end-piece for the strings is loose and is attached to the neck. Lengths of one of the silk strings are still attached to one peg and to the spike.
DimensionsOver all length: 826 mm
Over all width: 138 mm
Over all depth: 82 mm
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number05636

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