Rebec

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, this late 19th-century rebec crafted by T. Maurouoff exemplifies exquisite Greek luthiery. Measuring 1 foot 6 inches in length and 5½ inches wide, the instrument is fashioned from wood with gut strings, reflecting traditional techniques honed over centuries in the Eastern Mediterranean. As a chordophone-lute-bowed-unfretted, it belongs to a family of pear-shaped, bowed string instruments that bridge folk traditions and classical music. The rebec, a precursor to the modern violin, was vital in Greek mus...