"Saùng-gauk (arched harp)"

The saung gauk is associated with the Buddhist dynasties that ruled Burma for centuries. Until the 1800s the instrument was exclusively played at the royal courts to accompany singing or as a solo instrument. Today the saung gauk is the national instrument of Myanmar.

Arched harp

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Saùng-gauk (arched harp)

Alternative Title

Saùng-gauk.

Accession Number

0856

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Probably 20th century

Gallery Information

Gallery

Laigh Room

Case

Classical instruments display

Maker Information

No information recorded.

Made In

No information recorded.

Description

Technical Description

Boat-shaped resonating box of hollowed-out wood, length of resonating chamber 610mm; average width of resonating chamber 130mm; 4 circular sound-holes in sound-table; 13 strings (silk covered metal and gut) knotted to bar fixed through the sound-table; strings are tied to tightening braids of red plaited cotton around the neck; maximum height of curved neck 590mm. Resonating box lacquered black and covered with hide, and with traces of gold lacquer; sound-table decorated with inlaid silver and green metal spots at either end of the bar; similarly decorated wooden loop at base of neck, with traces of red lacquer on inside.

Provenance

Gift of the executors of Sasha MacKenzie.

Classification