Tanzania
Zaramo

Calabash, wood, wire strings, reptile skin
ca. Early 20th Century
Length: 31 inches
Chordophone – Lute – Spiked

This African spike floating bridge gourd harp has a long necks with the strings parallel to the neck and attached underneath the resonator gourd.  The Zaramo zoomorphic figurative head on top (finial), has glass bead eyes.  The finial continues with arms  carved in low relief where the pegs are inserted.  The gourd is open underneath, with a reptile skin covering the resonator open gourd on the front side and five wire strings.  It combines features of the harp and lute.

Reference:  Ulf Jaegfors