Looking for Help Identifying this or any information

[JBK65]

Ok...found this old hand carved Mandolin. No Markings of any type. 15 String Mandolin. Any information or comments would be appreciated. Any other information that you need let me know.

Wood appears to be inlaid with Ivory along with Bridge appears to be made out of Ivory.

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Thanks....

Jeff

[JBK65]

The white part under the bridge is a stretched skin of some type.

[Ray(T)]

Certainly not a mandolin. I suspect that its some sort of bowed sitar in view of the curved bridge and sympathetic strings.

Wait a while and I'm sure someone will come along and give you chapter and verse.

[MikeEdgerton]

I think it's a Sarangi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarangi). Even if it's not it's certainly not a mandolin.

[JBK65]

I found a picture on Google of both Bowed Sitar and Sarangi, and think it may be a Bowed Sitar. Again, picked it up for basically nothing as I loved the look more than anything else, and trying to find some information to understand what it is.

Thanks for the two posts so far, and all the information is greatly appreciated.

[CWRoyds]

It is actually an north indian Sarinda. There are many variations of Sarinda in different parts of india, and the Saranghi is a more famous descendant of the more folky Sarinda. They are played with a bow, and the player makes a tone on the string by stopping the string with where the fingernail meets the flesh of the finger. Players end up with very ugly calluses at the base of the fingernail. It is a cool sounding instrument. I believe the one you show is a Pashto style Sarinda.

[CWRoyds]

Here is a Sarinda being played.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxEFYG_dLWY

[MikeEdgerton]

The one in the OP has two scrolls. It must be the F model.

[Ray(T)]

My thought was that it was a smaller version than ones I'd seen so it must have been a "baby sitar" - sorry!

[JBK65]

Thanks so much for all the information. Learning more about it everyday. Originally picked it up for the artistic look, and what I presumed to be a unique/rare item.

Jeff

[CWRoyds]

Yeah, Indian instruments are fascinating and so beautiful.
I have been studying Classical Indian Sitar for about 6 years, with a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar.
I have amassed a growing collection of Sitars as I just can't resist them as objects of beauty.
They are amazing creations.

You can check out my collection of sitars at the flickr link below.
They are all handmade, without power tools, and were made in tiny dirt floor workshops.
Even the drill they use is a Bow drill powered by hand.
Anyhoo, be sure to check out the Hiren Roy and the Kanai Lal sitars in my collection.
They are the finest makers of the last century in India.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/carletonroyds/albums

[MikeEdgerton]

sitarcafe.com?

Very nice.

[MysTiK PiKn]

India is an amazing and very old culture. And that is about all I know of it. In one word, "fascinating".

I got into some of the music; tried to show a friend - he wanted nothing to do with it.

There was one musician, writer, teacher, performer - who was considered a master, I can't recall his name - something like Nusrah Ali Phat - he died a while back. His music was hypnotic, emotional and powerful; and he is still held in high regard. Anyone Indian knows of him. He is a famous 'world musician'. It's not describable. I you get a chance, listen, and you will hear.

[Daysleeper]

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a Pakistani vocalist in the Qawwali tradition of the Sufis.
An amazing singer, to be sure!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz3EABWOVwg