Tanjore Tāmbūra (male)

Unknown

early 19th century · jackwood, rosewood, metal, bone · Musical Instruments

This tāmbūra is the larger in a set of two and thus called the male. It is richly decorated with ivory inlay on the dark wood body. Its resonator is bowl-shaped and made of wood. This instrument was part of the collection of Y. G. Srimati, an Indian dancer and singer. She danced for Gandiji and Kasturba and sang bhajans (devotional songs) at his prayer meetings in Madras in 1936.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 19th century

Medium

jackwood, rosewood, metal, bone

Culture

Indian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Purchase, Frederick M. Lehman Bequest, 2008