Barbat Lute

CultureTurkish
Titles
  • Barbat Lute
Datelate 19th–early 20th century
MediumWood; inlaid with ebony, mother of pearl, and ivory or bone
Dimensions36 3/4 × 14 3/4 × 8 in. (93.3 × 37.5 × 20.3 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Franci Neely in honor of her son, Andrew Ellingson Beck III
Object number2010.223
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
113 Islamic Art Gallery
On view

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DescriptionThe barbat is a stringed instrument from the lute, or ‘ud (from the Arabic al-‘ud), family. It is recognizable by its longer neck, almost double the length of a classical ‘ud. The ‘ud is one of the most characteristic Middle Eastern musical instruments. Although ‘ud-like instruments were played in the ancient world, they were introduced to Europe through the court of the Umayyad caliphs in Spain during the 9th and 10th centuries. This Turkish version is different from the Arabic version in its shape and withregard to the way it is played. This transformation has been attributed to Manolis Venios, a master Greek luthier who lived in Constantinople (Istanbul).
Provenance Research Ongoing

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Piccolo
Firth, Hall & Pond
c. 1833–1847
Unidentified wood, ivory, and metal
B.2011.26
Flute
Edward Baack
c. 1864–1872
Unidentified wood, ivory or bone, and brass
B.2011.25
Flute
1850–1970
Bamboo
91.1547
Drum and Drumstick
unknown
Painted wood, leather, cotton
88.164.A,.B
Fife
c. 1862
Unidentified wood and brass
B.2011.29
Striker for Slit-drum (tamtam)
Chief Tofor
1960–1991
Wood
91.48.B
Horn
1875–1905
Ivory
97.1410
Scan from photography for Glassell catalog
1925–1935
Wood, gold leaf, and string
97.1489
Horn
1875–1970
Wood and gold leaf
97.1411
Fife
c. 1862
Unidentified wood and silver
B.2011.27
Fife
c. 1862
Unidentified wood and brass
B.2011.28