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Shamisen

The shamisen is a traditional Japanese three-string spike lute with a bloated-square-shaped resonator that is covered on top and back with animal skin glued onto the edges. This example was built with a single-piece neck and has two friction, hexagonal-shaped pegs made of wood (one missing). There are three silk strings attached to a tailpiece made of silk rope (neo). The bridge is missing.

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  • Decorative elements:Painted bamboo and foliage decoration on the neck and pegbox finial. Two black tassels attached to the tailpiece.
  • Inscriptions:
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:321.312 Spike box lutes or spike guitars
  • Repository:Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
  • Measurements:Height: 930mm; Width: 293mm; Depth: 97mm