Xinjiang Province of Western China
Uyghurs

Wood, horsehair, metal stings, bone, reptile skin
ca. Mid-20th century
Length: 35.5 in
Chordophones – Lutes

The rawap is a long-necked plucked lute of the Uyghur people in the  Xinjiang Province of Western China.  This rawap consists of a small inlaid decorated  bowl-shaped sound box with a reptile skin sound table, a slender string-fretted inlaid decorated neck, six decorative T-shaped pegs and metal strings.  There are two down curved horns (munguz) that extend from the neck just above the sound box.

The history of the instrument dates back to the 14th century in southern Xinjiang. Traditionally played by narrative singers, it has been developed as a professional solo and orchestral instrument (tekemmul rawap). 

Resource: ‘Rawap’: Rachel Harris, ‘The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments’- Second Edition: Laurence Libin, Editor in Chief. Oxford University Press.