Two-stringed musical instrument decorated with a horse’s head (Khalkha: morin xūr)

Mongolian Collection

Accession Nr.: 65.77.1
Type: musical instruments
Date of production:
1965.
Place of production:
Materials: bone; hair; leather; wood
Dimensions: height:107.5 cm
width: 30 cm
Two-stringed musical instrument decorated with a horse’s head (Khalkha: morin xūr)

The upper part of the wooden trapezoidal body of the instrument is made of rawhide. The wooden sides and front end of the long neck are decorated with inlaid sandalwood trellis and vine motifs. The neck ends in a carved horse’s head. The horsehair strings are attached with yellow twine. It was played using a wooden bow strung with horsehair. The first owner received the gift in a wooden case lined with red velvet.