Sanxian (三弦 )
Unknown Artist
ca. 1900
Medium
rosewood, mother-of-pearl, snake skin, ivory
Dimensions
L. 32 3/8 × W. 5 3/8 in. (82.2 × 13.7 cm)
Classification
Chordophone-Lute-plucked-unfretted
Culture
Chinese
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Estate of Mrs. Alexander Glass, 1944
Accession Number
44.51.1
Art Historical Context
Behold the Sanxian (三弦), a captivating three-stringed lute from late Qing dynasty China, circa 190. This exquisite chordophone, classified as a plucked unfretted lute, measures an elegant 32⅜ inches in length, crafted from rich rosewood for its resonant body. Its soundboard gleams with snake skin, prized for its tight vibration that produces the instrument's distinctive bright, nasal tone, while mother-of-pearl inlays add shimmering decorative flair, and ivory accents highlight fine details like tuning pegs. Central to Chinese folk traditions, narrative singing (such as Jiangnan sizhu or regi...