A) Esraj (violin-like stringed instrument) with bow; round wood soundbox, membrane-covered, with long neck culminating in curved pegboard with carved dolphin head at rear; on one side is wood panel with 15 sympathetic strings;4 main strings; all strings are steel or brass; ivory bridge. Length: 96 cm; width: 15 cm. B) Esraj bow; length: 59 cm; width: 4.5 cm.
Donor:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Ready, Jr. Fund
Collection place:
Bengal (historical region)
Verbatim coll. place:
India;; Bengal att.
Culture or time period:
Bengali people
Collector:
H. M. Lissauer
Materials:
Horsehair, Ivory (material), Metal, Steel (alloy), and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works) and Esrajs
Function:
5.4 Secular and Religious Musical Instruments
Accession date:
May 26, 1971
Context of use:
Most common in upperclass Bengali homes; played with bow; tuned (main strings) C C G F; F string is principal string; Esraj is Bengali variant of the Hindu instrument, the Sarangi. Player sits, neck rests on left shoulder, soundbox on lap, bowed with right hand.
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Loans:
S1974-1975 #4: University Art Museum (UC Berkeley) (July 19, 1974–February 7, 1975), S1974-1975 #67: Civic Arts Center (Walnut Creek) (February 5, 1975–May 7, 1975), S1977-1978 #2: Music Library (UC Berkeley) (July 27, 1977–October 6, 1977), and S1985-1986 #36: Music Library (UC Berkeley) (May 5, 1986–June 15, 1987)