Southeast Asia, Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Toraja peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An attractive carved wooden lute with two strings and a tuning peg for each. The body is decorated with floral and concentric diamond motifs adorning the centers of rectangular panels with dotted borders - all painted in a vibrant color scheme of red, black, and white hues. The curvy neck is painted in black and white - and the terminal scroll features a lovely leaf or flower with a stem spiraling around the blossom. Two finger holes are on the reverse for holding the instrument. Traditional Indonesian musical instruments include drums, bamboo flutes, Jew's (mouth) harps, gongs, and two types of stringed lutes known as hasapi. Music is played for rituals and dances - about various subjects ranging from fishing to combat; however, lutes have traditionally been used in more intimate settings - sometimes to serenade a woman as part of a love ritual to gain the lady's affections. Size: 28.125" L x 5.125" W (71.4 cm x 13 cm); 13" H (33 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Johnson collection, Marina Del Rey, California, USA

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#131791

Some surface wear and abraded areas as shown. The instrument has two strings and their corresponding tuning pegs as shown.