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Rubab

early 20th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681
Afghanistan’s national instrument, the rubāb is also popular in northwest India and Pakistan and may be the ancestor of the sarod. Carved from a single piece of mulberry wood and covered with skin, the instrument has a lively and percussive sound. This Afghan rubāb is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, which accentuates the wood’s deep tones and textures.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Rubab
  • Date: early 20th century
  • Geography: Afghanistan
  • Culture: Afghan
  • Medium: Wood and various materials
  • Dimensions: 35 × 7 3/16 × 8 7/16 in. (88.9 × 18.3 × 21.5 cm)
  • Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-unfretted
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Clara Mertens Bequest, in memory of André Mertens, by exchange; and Gift of Mark H. Handwerk, in memory of Mary Lewin Wethered Clark Handwerk, by exchange, 1990
  • Object Number: 1990.129.2
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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