Yugoslavia
Maker Unknown

Wood, mother-of-pearl, metal strings, metal
Middle-Late 20th century
Length: 25 in, Width: 5.5 in, Depth: 1.625 in
Strings – Lutes – Miscellaneous Lutes

This Yugoslavian oval-shaped ‘Bisernica’ (in Serbian and Croatian “biser” means “pearl”) is another name for the “prim” (preem).  It’s also referred to as a “Tamburica”.  The name comes from the Croatian diminutive of the word “Tambura” (or Prim).  It has four metal strings, 22 metal frets (solid – not the Farkaš system), and four mechanized tuning pegs with white grips. The tailpiece is also made of metal, and there are four MOP circles inlaid on the fretboard for reference. The body itself is made of several different stains of wood, with the face darker on top and lighter on the larger bottom portion. The division is stylized and marked with small sound holes. The back of the instrument is made of a still darker wood.  The top of the peghead has a small rose carved in relief. The fretboard is made of wood with a very dark brown stain and the bridge and top nut are carved from horn.

Today this instrument is known as a Serbo-Croation ‘Tamburica,’ meaning ‘Little Tambura’).  A variety of tamburica shapes were developed in what is known today as Serbia and Croatia by a number of indigenous contributors near the end of the 19th century into the early twentieth century when this region was known as a common state for all South Slavic people who emerged into Yugoslavia (1918-1992).  The ‘bisernica’ seen here plays the melody and is one of the smaller instruments of the ‘prim’ in the tamburitza orchestra.  The most common playing technique is tremolo “trzanje” or picking.

The name ‘Tamburica’ also refers to a family of long-necked lutes popular in Southeast Europe and Southeastern Central Europe.  It is especially popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia (where is it known as Croatia’s national string instrument).

Reference: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Engineering:Tamburica