This zither was made by an unknown maker in the United States, undetermined date. It is a half-bout zither made of oak, with holes for 6 tuning pins for 6 strings (three melody and three drone), 3 extant tuning pins, currently 16 metal frets (fretted twice due to inaccurate fretting), 3 diamond-shaped sound holes and 1 apple-shaped sound hole, closed “D” shaped head.

While its origin is unknown, collector Anne Grimes acquired this instrument in Tennessee, near Knoxville.

Anne Grimes (1912-2004) was an American journalist, musician, and historian of American (particularly Midwestern) folklore. Grimes studied voice and piano at Ohio Wesleyan and initiated graduate studies at Ohio State University. Following her education, Grimes was a music teacher, music and dance critic, and radio host. After WWII, Grimes began collecting and documenting folk songs throughout Ohio, as well as collecting Appalachian dulcimers and zithers. She would continue this work, performing, recording, and lecturing on instruments from her collection throughout the rest of her career.