Harp c. late 19th century

wood

round frame

3d sculpting

3d model

3d printed part

rounded shape

plastic material rendering

3d character model

3d shape

metallic object render

3d modeling

wood

musical-instrument

This harp, made by Nzakara artists in the late 19th century, is a beautiful example of African musical craftsmanship. The instrument features a carved wooden body with a rounded shape, and a long neck that curves back towards the body. The neck is adorned with a carved human head, a common feature in African art, which may symbolize the spirit of the musician or the power of music. The harp is made from wood and has a resonant, deep tone. The harp is currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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It may resemble a guitar and sound like a lute. But with five strings running perpendicular to its sound box, rather than strung across it, this is a harp—a bow harp, in fact, owing to its shape. A century ago, among the Nzakara people in Central Africa, court poets praised—and sometimes critiqued—the deeds of past and present kings to the accompaniment of a bow harp.