Gusle

Serbian

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681

This single-stringed instrument usually has a horse-head finial, but nationalistic emblems and medallions of political figures may also be featured. Within the oval medallions here are portraits of kings Alexander I of Serbia, Nikola I of Montenegro, and Peter I of Serbia. The gusle is held upright between the knees to accompany singing, particularly of epic poetry.

Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian

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Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian
Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian
Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian
Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian
Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian
Gusle, Wood, horsehair string, Serbian

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