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Timbrh

This instrument was collected in the field by Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton, who bought it from the previous owner, N'Jama. The timbrh are relatively large lamellophones from Cameroon, in which the resonator is made either with a light wood, or with two or three hollowed out raffia palm stems (petioles) joined together with beeswax, and the lamellas are made of the hard outer skin of raffia (Raphia sp.). This example has a wooden box-resonator made of an hollowed hemispherical trunk covered with a top board that has a triangular soundhole. It has fifteen lamellas enhanced with vibration needles attached with dark beeswax on the top, and with lumps of the same dark beeswax underneath the touches, for fine tuning (some of these needles and lumps are currently missing). The pressure bar and the bridge are also made of raffia, and are attached to the board with "rattan" (probably of same raffia palm plant). Naturally, the backrest is also a thin piece of raffia. There is also a small cord of vegetable fibers on top.

  • Measurements:Length: 440mm; Width: 205mm; Depth (at lamellas): 115mm