"Sanza (thumb-piano or lamellaphone)"

Sanzas have been used for entertainment throughout Africa for thousands of years. Across the continent you can find an astonishing variety of designs and sizes of these thumb pianos. Their popularity spread globally with migration forced by the African slave trade and now there are similar instruments played throughout the Americas.

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Sanza (thumb-piano or lamellaphone)

Alternative Title

Sansi-Typ?

Accession Number

0413

Collection

Glen Collection; MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1880-1910; Late 19th or early 20th century

Gallery Information

Gallery

Laigh Room

Case

Popular instruments display

Maker Information

No information recorded.

Made In

No information recorded.

Description

Technical Description

A solid piece of wood from which a resonating chamber has been hollowed out from the end like a mouth to a depth of 95 mm; the top of the wood has been slightly pared to leave a small ledge around 3 sides; 10 lamellae rest on this ledge at the base end, are gripped tightly under a transverse metal bar (itself held tight by wires stretched under the body), and then rise over a metal bridge. Width 140mm narrowing to 125m. Depth 30mm diminishing to 20mm. Lengths of lamellae 92.5mm, 122.5mm, 104mm, 142.5mm, 124mm, 128mm, 105mm, 106m, 96mm, 94mm.

Provenance

Purchased with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University's General Council Trust, 1983.

Classification