Biwa

ca. 1891

Not on view

One of a matching set of three stringed instruments that are decorated with a laquered design showing roosters and flowers. The biwa and shamisen (called samisen in Kyoto and Osaka) both use triangular-shaped plectrum, called bachi, while the koto is plucked with picks (tsumi) worn on the fingers. These instruments were not intended to be played, but were probably made as decorative gifts.
See also 69.271.2 (shamisen), 69.271.3 (koto)

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Biwa
Maker: Wakamura workshop
Date: ca. 1891
Geography: Kyoto, Japan
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Wood, lacquer, gold, white coral?, leather, ivory
Dimensions: L. 30 11/16 × W. 11 3/4 in. (78 × 29.9 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
Credit Line: Gift of the Estate of Mary Flagler Cary, 1969
Object Number: 69.271.1a, b
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

By Wakamura workshop

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Han Koto, Wakamura workshop, Paulownia wood, lacquer, red coral, Japanese — Han Koto
Wakamura workshop
ca. 1891

Sword-Hilt Collar and Pommel (Fuchigashira), Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, Japanese — Sword-Hilt Collar and Pommel (Fuchigashira)
Japanese
ca. 1615–1868

Satsuma Biwa (薩摩琵琶), Wood, mother-of-pearl and ivory, Japanese — Satsuma Biwa (薩摩琵琶)
Japanese
ca. 1800

San Gen Da Kin, Asano Tōshichi Japanese, Wood, wire, string, Japanese — San Gen Da Kin
Asano Tōshichi
19th century

"Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 203), John Monteleone American, Big-leaf maple, Tyrolean spruce, koa, Macassar ebony, curly red maple, stainless steel, spiny oyster coral stone, mother-of-pearl, diamond, gold plating, golden-brown nitro-cellulose lacquer finish, American — "Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 203)
John Monteleone
2005

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