A SARINDA AND ITS BOW WITH SILVER-PAINTED BEADED MOTIF
Punjab or Pakistan, late 20th century

Of typical shape, with eight strings left, the resonance chamber drop-shaped with concave sides and rounded tail, the front of the hollow wooden soundbox covered with animal skin, with narrow flat neck and asymetrically-placed pegs, decorated throughout with painted silver beaded motif creating fretwork bands, zig-zag friezes and floral roundels, a cartouche at the top of the neck reading Amal-e 'Ali, the sarinda 61.5cm long, the bow 52cm long.

The sarinda is a stringed Indian folk musical instrument similar to lutes or fiddles to be played in a vertical orientation. Mostly used in folk music, sarindas tend to be associated with musical performances in Sufi shrines; its high-pitched tone blends in well as accompaniment to the singing in devotional music. This instrument has become increasingly difficult to find in the market of musical instruments. The present vendor managed to purchase one with the help of Kheta Khan Manganiyar, a brilliant performer of khartal, a wooden clapper used in devotional folk songs.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London features in its collection an ivory-inlaid sarinda with its bow, dating to the 19th century and most probably made for Sikh devotees living in Punjab. For further reference, please see the source on their website: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/display-musical-wonders-of-india/sanyogi-sarinda/ (last accessed 14/10/2021).