"Anniversary" Dulcimer

George Pickow

1952 · Walnut or poplar body, fir or pine soundboard, metal frets, bone nut and bridge · Musical Instruments

This Appalachian dulcimer was made by George Pickow for his wife, the folk singer and dulcimer player Jean Ritchie, on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary in 1952 and named by him the "Anniversary Dulcimer." It has the traditional hourglass shape of an Appalachian or Mountain dulcimer with three tuners in a scroll headstock. The sound holes in the sound board are heart shaped. It is inscribed inside the sound hole: Made for Jean Ritchie by George Pickow, Viper, Kentucky 1952. Jean Ritchie was a part of the first wave of the folk music revival along with musicians including Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly. She became known as "The Mother of Folk," and influenced later singers such as Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Judy Collins. She is credited with bringing the Appalachian dulcimer to a wider audience and her husband, George Pickow, made instruments that were sold at folk festivals around the country.

Artist

George Pickow

Date

1952

Medium

Walnut or poplar body, fir or pine soundboard, metal frets, bone nut and bridge

Culture

American

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Peter Pickow, in memory of Jean Ritchie, 2015