Musical Bow

late 19th century
Not on view
The Musical bow, a wood rod fitted with a string and tapped with a stick, is one of the oldest instrument types. The sounds of the vegetal, metal or cord string may be enhanced by a gourd resonator held against the chest or resonated in the mouth. It is widely distributed and African versions were brought to the Americas by enslaved peoples who in Brazil used it (berimbau) to perform capoeira, a martial art dance.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Musical Bow
  • Date: late 19th century
  • Culture: West African
  • Medium: Wood, gourd, hemp
  • Dimensions: Height: 34 in. (86.4 cm)
    Diameter (Of gourd): 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
  • Classification: Chordophone-Musical Bow
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.496
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.