Vīnā (bīn)

Unknown

mid-19th century · Gourd, metal, wax · Musical Instruments

Vīnā is an ancient term that once refered to Indian stringed instruments. Bīn, a term with various meanings throughout India, refers to this fretted stick zither in north (Hindustani) India. The frets are affixed by a resinous wax like substance. The bīn, is held at an angle with the pegs positioned above the left shoulder and the lower end lying within easy reach of the right hand which plucks the strings.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-19th century

Medium

Gourd, metal, wax

Culture

Indian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946