Rebab

late 19th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681

The term rebab refers to chordophones, particularly lutes and lyres, found in Islamic and Islamic-influenced lands. In North Africa, where this example is from, the rebab is most often a boat-shaped, two-string fiddle without frets. It is held across the player's body, with the pegbox against the left shoulder and the tailpiece on the right knee, and is played with a bow. The rebab is never played alone, and is used only to accompany singing. This instrument has been decorated with a delicate ivory inlay, in patterns reminiscent of other decorative objects of the same period from Algeria. The design on the back is reminiscent of a dolphine, symbol of good luck.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Additional Dimensions

Provenance

Title: Rebab
Date: late 19th century
Geography: Algeria or Morocco
Culture: Algerian or Moroccan
Medium: Wood, parchment, metal
Dimensions: Height: 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted
Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Object Number: 89.4.403
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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Rabāb, Wood, brass, mother-of-pearl, gut, leather, bone, Algerian — Rabāb
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Rebāb, wood, brass, mother-of-pearl, gut, leather, bone, lace, Possibly Algerian — Rebāb
Possibly Algerian
19th century

Rabāb, wood, mother-of-pearl, gut, skin, bone, Algerian or Moroccan — Rabāb
Algerian or Moroccan
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Rebab, Wood, vellum, velvet, horn, horsehair, Indonesian (Sundanese) — Rebab
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late 19th–early 20th century

Bala, Wood, gourd, hide, membrane, Malinke — Bala
Malinke
19th century

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