Central and North India

Indian

Wood, gourds, metal, silk, mother-of-pearl, bone
Late 20th century
Length: 49 in; Width: 10 in; Depth: 18.25 in (w/peacock head attached)
Chordophones – Lutes

The taus (mayuri veena) is among the many popular bowed stringed instruments in the regions of central and north India. The body of the taus is called a mayuri.  It supports a slender wooden neck adorned with 20 metal frets.  The name taus is derived from a similar Persian word that means ‘peacock.’  A modification of the taus is the string instrument known as the dilruba.  

This taus is made of a deep mahogany wood with four carved main tuning pegs and 15 sympathetic string tuning pegs. All strings are metal, with 20 metal frets along the thick neck of the instrument. Underneath the raised frets is an inlaid design of a peacock with floral tail extending the length of the neck. The body is made of a thin animal skin stretched over mahogany wood and bone pieces and each of the strings, as well as a raised bone bridge. Near the bottom of the instrument is a carved and inlaid peacock head with painted eyes and bone decoration which can detach from the instrument for storage. Near the top is another smaller head, as well as a gourd with floral carvings near the attachment in high relief. There is a set of peacock feathers which also attaches to the underside of the instrument for decoration.