Egypt
Egyptian

Wood, coconut shell, fabric, bamboo, gut string, metal wire, electrical tape, horsehair, gold paint
20th century
Length: 37 in; Diameter: 4.75 in; Depth: 3.75 in
Chordophone – Lute-bowed-unfretted

A two-string spike lute (fiddle) called Rabāba or kamānja agūz, used today to accompany folk singers.  One of the strings is gut string and the other is metal, each attached at the top to a gold painted carved tuning knob/pin.  The neck of the instrument is all wood with a painted gold finial. The spike attached to the neck that goes through the gourd resonator is metal reinforced with black electrical tape.  The resonator is a coconut shell with a thin skin covering the front hole.  A small piece of wood serves as a bridge.  The bow is curved bamboo with black horsehair and a piece of colorful blue printed fabric to form a handle.  The ends of the bow are also reinforced with black electrical tape.  Both the bow and fiddle are in a hard case with metal latches which is in fair condition.  This fiddle is used to accompany folk singers and is held vertical when played.