Indonesia
Toba Batak people of northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Wood, metal strings
Mid – Late 20th century
Length: 52.5 in, Width: 5.6 in, Depth: 2.25 in
Chordophones – Lutes – Plucked

The hasapi is a slender plucked boat-lute of the Toba Batak people of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.  It is believed that they were originally used for Zere religious rituals and as a courtship instrument.  In the mid to late 20^th century, they were made mainly as woodcarving souvenirs for tourists, which is what is seen in this example.  However, today the Toba Batak are now Christians, and they use the hasapi in the uning-uningan ensemble, a small secular instrumental entertainment group. This lute has two metal strings that extend from the tuning pegs located on each side of the pegbox to pins in a block of wood that serves as a fixed bridge near the lower end of the wooden sound table.  The top of the pegbox shows the carving of a stylized zoomorphic figure (possibly a crowned bird), on top of the head of a seated man. while the bottom also bears a carving of a human face.

Reference: hasapi · Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection · WMI Testing