Sursanga
Richly decorated musical instruments such as this sursanga were often given as gifts and used for display or wall decorations. This instrument is painted in the Mysore style and the belly depicts both Ganesha (seated on a lotus flower) and Sarasvati (on the left playing a veena and riding a peacock). The sūrsanga derived from the dhrupad rabāb in the late 19th century as an adaptation more suited to the musical styles of the time. The skin covered resonators were replaced by thin wooden face plates and the gut strings were replaced by metal ones. By the mid-20th century, however, very few people continued to play this instrument.
Description: Globular body of hard-wood; hollow neck tapering towards top; open peg-box terminating in a fan-ivory edging. Two pegs on one side, three on the other; entire instrument elaborately painted.
Description: Globular body of hard-wood; hollow neck tapering towards top; open peg-box terminating in a fan-ivory edging. Two pegs on one side, three on the other; entire instrument elaborately painted.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sursanga
- Date: 19th century
- Geography: India
- Culture: Indian
- Medium: Wood, pearl, ivory
- Dimensions: L. 25 1/2 × W. 8 1/2 in. (64.8 × 21.6 cm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked
- Credit Line: Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946
- Object Number: 46.34.79
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Indian
19th century
Indian
19th century
Thai
19th century
Iranian (Persian)
ca. 1880
Indian (north)
ca. 1885
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.