321.321-71 Necked bowl lutes sounded by bowing with a bow

Ta'us 'peacock'. A form of dilruba, a bowed stringed instrument, with four bowed strings and twenty wire sympathetic strings. The body in the form of a peacock, with detachable neck and head. The skin soundtable has a semi-circular soundhole. The wooden bridge is probably a replacement made in the UK. The instrument was made in North India, probably Punjab, in the late 19th or early 20th century.

This instrument has been revived within the context of Sikh devotional music, shabd kirtan. The ta'us is classified according to the system of Hornbostel and Sachs as a necked bowl lute played with a bow.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
M15.10.48/253
Date
1875-1925
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 1100 mm x 300 mm x 540 mm
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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