German Scheitholt Zither

Description:

This German Scheitholt type zither was made by W. J. B. in Mount Airy, North Carolina, in 1934. It has a trapezoidal-shaped body with a dark opaque varnish. The instrument has four strings (either one melody string and three drone strings, or two melody strings and two drone strings), 13 metal frets, one round sound hole, 4 wooden friction pegs, carved through pegbox, and hook-shaped head. Handwritten inside the dulcimer is, "WJB."

Date Made: 1934

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: North Carolina, Mount Airy

Subject: Music

Subject:

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments, Music & Musical Instruments, Dulcimers

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: Nation of Nations, A

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MI.67.006Catalog Number: 67.006Accession Number: 272440

Object Name: zither

Physical Description: wood (overall material)metal (overall material)leather (overall material)Measurements: overall: 32 in x 6 3/4 in x 2 3/4 in; 81.28 cm x 17.145 cm x 6.985 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4669-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_606071

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.