Cleveland Museum of Art · before 1918
Kora
The kora is an instrument that has 21 strings. This example is now missing many, which would have been tied along its long neck. The strings are plucked with the fingers, causing the sound to resonate in the half-sphere-shaped gourd body. Stitch marks on the back show that many cracks on the gourd were repaired in the past.
Musicians continue to play the kora today, including in concerts at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
| Date | before 1918 |
|---|---|
| Culture / origin | Africa, unknown maker |
| Materials | Gourd, wood, rawhide, string, and rope |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 32.4 cm (12 3/4 in.); Overall: 111.8 cm (44 in.) |
| Credit | The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr. |
