wood and metal with cloth, lacquer, polymer and duct tape
Dimensions:
H x W x D (sitar body): 47 5/8 × 12 3/16 × 12 in. (121 × 31 × 30.5 cm)
H x W x D (tumba): 5 7/8 × 5 7/8 × 6 3/8 in. (15 × 15 × 16.2 cm)
Type:
strings (chordophone components)
sitars
Place made:
India, Asia
Date:
late 20th century
Description:
.6abcd Sitar with tumba, transducer, and extra strings
Sitar (.6a) with detachable lakadi ka tumba (.6b), mid-tone laquered wood with white, red, and black decorative motif in polymer inlay. Wood has decorative leaf motifs carved into body. Tuning pegs (kuntis) and lakadi ka tumba leaf motif are darker, either different wood or lacquer. Headstock of sitar has sticker, blue on silver, that reads [MADE IN INDIA]. Sitar body (kadu ka tumba) has duct tape on it, possibly for attaching acoustic transducer.
DeArmond-brand acoustic transducer (.6c) is chromed with brass volume knob. Knob has a black plastic cover. Etched into chrome is [DeArmond / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / ROWE INDUSTRIES / TOLDEO, OHIO U.S.A.] Beneath the transducer, its bottom surfaces and edges are covered with a removable rubber padding, with a round hole containing a matching round section of cork glued directly to the transducer’s metal body. The plug end is a 1/4" TS plug that would feed into an amplifier.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Karumah, Dunni, Ishmak, Aribania and Mariama Cosey in memory of Baba Pete Cosey