Mirliton; eunuch flute

Eunuch-flute, voice activated mirliton. A conical bronze pipe bell section at the distal end. A large bulb at the proximal end houses a lateral membrane and is pierced with round holes at its sides. The bulb is surmounted at the top by a pointed finial. A round mouth hole is positioned at the side of the pipe near the bulb. Beneath this, the pipe is decorated with a number of raised bands, five midway down, grouped as a two and three, a further group at the top of the bell expansion, a single band midway down the bell and a raised band around the bell rim. Possibly made in India, but unlike examples of the nyastaranga surviving in museum collections.