A RAJASTHANI KAMAICHA
Rajasthan, North-Western India, 20th century

Of typical shape, with a rounded resonance chamber carved out of wood and covered with animal leather, with three cord strings and eleven metal strings, with a flat tapering neck curled at the top, inlaid with bone and mother-of-pearl tesserae painted with red dots and incised with beaded patterns, the beaded motif repeated around the edges of the leather covering the resonance chamber, with a leather strap at the back, 74cm long.

The kamaicha is one of the oldest bowed instruments and is the heart and soul of Rajasthani folk music. This instrument is synonymous with the Manganiyar community of Rajasthani folk musicians, usually coming from the Jaisalmer-Barmer and Bikaner regions, and it can accompany solo or group performances of singing and dancing. The present vendor was instrumental in raising awareness of the gradual disappearance of this instrument over the course of the late 20th century, and promoted its revival by gatheirng craftsmen that knew how to make these instruments in Jodhpur and helping them to re-develop their skills. In 2009, a group of Rajasthani folk musicians together with the present vendor played a concert with this instrument at the BBC Proms.