Lyre
Item number Ca39 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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Description
Lyre with two arms and crossbar, all incised with a criss-cross design. The arms fit into plastic bowl covered with two pieces of tanned skin and hand sewn with goat gut. Six plastic strings are fastened to six pegs and lashed around the pegs and the crossbar. The strings are fastened across the front of the sound box over a wooden bridge and are all tied to a piece of gut which is sewn onto the sound box and stretched.
History Of Use
The krar ( ክራር in Amharic) is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is tuned to a pentatonic scale. The lyre has its origins in Sumerian and Egyptian cultures from about 7000 years ago. It is still in use in Africa, for entertainment and ceremonies.
Narrative
Purchased by Mr. And Mrs. Adamasu from vendors in the capital city, Addis Ababa. Kerars are available ready made, or can be made to order.
Item History
- Made in Ethiopia before 1974
- Collected during 1974
- Owned by Lemma Admasu before December 27, 1979
- Received from Lemma Admasu (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on December 27, 1979
What
- Name
- Lyre
- Identification Number
- Ca39
- Type of Item
- lyre
- Material
- goat intestine, plastic, goat skin and wood
- Manufacturing Technique
- cut, stretched, moulded, stitched, tanned and carved
- Overall
- height 79.0 cm, width 58.8 cm, depth 10.5 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Ethiopia
Who
- Culture
- Ethiopian
- Previous Owner
- Lemma Admasu
- Received from
- Lemma Admasu (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
When
- Creation Date
- before 1974
- Collection Date
- during 1974
- Ownership Date
- before December 27, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on December 27, 1979
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0587/0001
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