Musical Bow
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
- 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
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