Rebāb

19th century

Not on view

This type of rebāb is one of the most important instruments in traditional Arabic ensembles of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. It made its way into Spain with the Moors and from about 1300 lent its name to the early European fiddle, the rebec, which was originally played with the rounded end on the lap just as the rabāb may be played today. Short-necked, bowed lutes from Algeria are made with decorative pierced brass fingerboards while those from Morocco use wood to cover the hollowed neck.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Additional Dimensions

Provenance

Title: Rebāb
Date: 19th century
Geography: Algeria
Culture: Possibly Algerian
Medium: wood, brass, mother-of-pearl, gut, leather, bone, lace
Dimensions: Height: 19 5/8 in. (49.8 cm)
Width: 3 15/16 in. (10 cm)
Diameter: 3 15/16 in. (10 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted
Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Object Number: 89.4.407
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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In the same medium

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Rabāb, Wood, brass, mother-of-pearl, gut, leather, bone, Algerian — Rabāb
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Rebab, Wood, parchment, metal, Algerian or Moroccan — Rebab
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late 19th century

Rabāb, wood, mother-of-pearl, gut, skin, bone, Algerian or Moroccan — Rabāb
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Darabukka, Brass, membrane, possibly Algerian — Darabukka
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Sanxian (三弦 ), Wood, snake skin, bone, brass, Chinese — Sanxian (三弦 )
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