This kamanja was made by an unknown maker in the Caucasus, probably 19th century. It has a one-piece table of pine with “slit” soundholes burned into the wood along with crude ornamental geometric designs in upper and lower bouts, the body, neck and “leaf” pegbox are fashioned from one piece of softwood; body painted a reddish-brown color; table is unvarnished.
The Kamanja has Islamic origins beginning in the 10th century and is popular in Turkey and the Black Sea region. This instrument has a long, slender box shape with three strings fastened at a leaf-shaped pegbox.
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