Lira, type of rebec-like bowed lute. Pear-shaped body, neck and head all carved from one piece of wood, the separate soundboard seems to be made of the same wood. There is a wide shallow groove carved into the back, and a small hole has been drilled about halfway from the nut to the bottom. Three dart-shaped pegs are set from back to front of leaf-shaped peg box. The heavy gut strings are carried high and there is no raised fingerboard. There are deep grooves in the neck under the treble string, presumably worn away by the pressure of the player's fingers. There are no similar grooves under the other strings, which seem, therefore, to have been drones. Two semicircular sound holes low on the belly leave a straight member on which the flat bridge stands. No tailpiece, the strings are tied round a knob on the end of the instruments which is covered by a matching projection in the wood of the soundboard. Decorated with scratched patterns, geometric designs, pin-men, flowers etc. The soundboard joint is coming adrift at the sides.
321.321 Necked bowl lutes (-71)
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