Bowl Lyre
Decorative lyre made for export, with gourd body and antelope horn arms. The rim of the gourd is decorated with bristles.
Lyres have two wood or horn arms that project from the body and carry a crossbar to which the upper ends of the strings are fastened. The strings lie nearly parallel to the soundtable. African lyre bodies are made of wood, gourds, tortoise or coconut shells. Most African lyres lack bridges; the strings vibrate against the soundtable to create a buzzing sound.
Lyres have two wood or horn arms that project from the body and carry a crossbar to which the upper ends of the strings are fastened. The strings lie nearly parallel to the soundtable. African lyre bodies are made of wood, gourds, tortoise or coconut shells. Most African lyres lack bridges; the strings vibrate against the soundtable to create a buzzing sound.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bowl Lyre
- Date: 19th century
- Geography: Uganda or Kenya
- Culture: Ugandan or Kenyan
- Medium: Wood, horn, calabash, skin
- Dimensions: 29 9/16 × 10 1/4 × 5 1/2 in. (75.1 × 26 × 14 cm)
Diameter (Approx.): 10 1/4 - 11 in. (26-28 cm) - Classification: Chordophone-Lyre-plucked
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.1361
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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Ganda
19th century
Probably Ganda People
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Ugandan
19th century
Ugandan or Kenyan
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Ugandan
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