Bowed Zither Circa 1880

Bowed zither circa 1880This is a bowed string instrument dating from the end of the 19th century. It can be likened to the violin family for several reasons: it is played with a bow (full violin bow not included) with a rounded fingerboard that allows each string to be reached separately. Its general shape is inspired by that of violins. It has a volute like on violins. Its four strings are tuned like on violins. The bridge and tailpiece are the same as for a violin. The table and back are bordered by a maple and ebony purfling specific to quartet instruments. The woods used are traditional in quartet lutherie: spruce for the table, maple on the back, sides and neck. It is nevertheless different because this zither is played placed on a table and raised by three small studs. Furthermore, the fingerboard is fretted with 27 brass frets. Even if fretted violins exist, it is still rare.Length of vibrating strings: 32 cm from the top nut and the zero fret.A rare and refined piece, this *bowed zither* dating from the end of the 19th century is a remarkable witness to the musical and artisanal taste of the Romantic era. Made around *1880*, it combines delicate aesthetics, fine workmanship and historical interest.This zither, also called "Streichzither" in Germany or "Bowed zither", has a noble wood case patinated by time, decorated with sober and elegant inlays. It is played with a bow, offering a unique timbre between the harp, the violin and the psaltery, of great softness and an almost vocal vibration.The instrument is in a very beautiful state of preservation, with its modern Corelli crystal strings and its functional mechanical elements, rosewood pegs. The soundboard reveals remarkable old grain, and the sound holes are finely cut, in the spirit of the artisanal instruments of the end of the 19th century. A collector's item in playable condition for enthusiasts, this bowed zither evokes the musical world of the bourgeois salons of Central Europe, between popular tradition and romantic inspiration.