Riqq

Unknown

20th century · Wood, hide, metal · Musical Instruments

The riqq is a small, circular drum with jingles of the tambourine family. The instrument is used in many parts of the Middle East including Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. This is a typical example with decoration suggestive of Syria or Egypt. The body is made of a wooden frame that has a single skin head stretched across the drum that is glued in place and reinforced with a row of tacks. The body is decorated with elaborate geometric inlay (on the interior and exterior of the drum). The wooden frame has six double rows of slots in which are mounted pairs of cymbals (24 in total) that create a bright metallic jingle when the instrument is struck or shaken.

Artist

Unknown

Date

20th century

Medium

Wood, hide, metal

Culture

Egyptian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Herbert J. Harris, 1986