Small West African calabash lute with hide sound-table, wood neck and cowrie shell mounts, 20th century.

A small West African calabash lute, attributed to the Sahel region, constructed from a hollowed gourd body covered with a stretched hide sound-table and fitted with a carved wooden neck. The perimeter is secured with leather binding and applied cowrie shells, with four string pegs and surviving strings in place. Hand constructed using organic materials, the instrument shows consistent age wear, surface abrasions and patina to the gourd, with oxidation and handling marks throughout. A restrained and honest example of regional string instrument manufacture, of interest to collectors of ethnographic musical forms and early field-collected material.

Circa: Mid–late 20th century

PROVENANCE Egon Guenther collection

MEASUREMENTS
Length: 50 cm
Width: 16.5 cm
Height: 10.5 cm
Weight: 139 g