Items Similar to Pair of African Nyamwezi Trough Zithers
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
Pair of African Nyamwezi Trough Zithers
$1,180per set
£894.74per set
€1,033.41per set
CA$1,655.61per set
A$1,844.31per set
CHF 972.85per set
MX$22,362.89per set
NOK 12,376.02per set
SEK 11,529.04per set
DKK 7,716.88per set
About the Item
These wooden sculptures are stringed instruments known as ligombo, a form of elongated trough zither attributed to the Nyamwezi people of Tanzania and greater East Africa. Originally secured to a resonator made of dried gourd, the ligombo was held close to the body and played by plucking at the six strings once drawn vertically across the shallow wooden body. At one end of each zither is a narrow handle, carved as abstract figures with glass bead eyes. Elevated by custom steel mounts, these traditional instruments live on as sculptural objects, an ideal way to add texture and vertical lines to a space.
The Nyamwezi people are a large, loosely connected agrarian group primarily residing in north-central Tanzania and were known as the "people of the west," sometimes translated as "people of the moon" due to new moons being visible only when setting in the west.
Additional Dimensions:
Left Zither: 24.5"H
Right Zither: 26"H
- Dimensions:Height: 26 in (66.04 cm)Width: 4 in (10.16 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Tribal (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: CAA0254 & CAA07721stDibs: LU820041148442
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1997
1stDibs seller since 2006
1,698 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Chicago, IL
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllYoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Metallic Studded Bambara Figure by Brian Stanziale
By Brian Stanziale
Located in Chicago, IL
In an exclusive collaboration with pagoda red, Chicago artist the bms. adds a contemporary twist to our collection of one-of-a-kind African art objects. Guided by its geometric line work, the bms. uses...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Malian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Tabwa Staff with Female Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
This hand carved 20th century wooden staff, was crafted in the style of the Tabwa people located along the southwestern shores of Lake Tanganyika. The handle is finely decorated with...
Category
20th Century South African Folk Art Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
$686 Sale Price
30% Off
Set of Four Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staffs, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, these iron...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Mounted Objects
Materials
Iron
Yoruba Painted Veranda Post
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand carved with a figurative design, this TOTEM-like wooden post was crafted by an artisan of the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria. Resembling the tall houseposts used to support the roof of a home, this shorter post would have been placed on a veranda courtyard as a symbolic and decorative element and did not bear weight. This veranda post...
Category
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
African Wooden Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This headrest comes from 20th century Kenya, hand-carved from one piece of indigenous wood. Headrests held great value to North Western nomadic pastoral tribes of Kenya as they have ...
Category
20th Century Kenyan Tribal Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Wood
You May Also Like
Pair of African Spear Currencies on Stands
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a pair of vintage African spear currencies from the Mbole peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo which are nicely presented upon custom m...
Category
20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
$3,090 / set
Western African, Guinea or Senegal Baga Serpent Sculptures on Custom Iron Stands
Located in Miami, FL
Western African, Guinea or Senegal Baga serpent sculptures on Custom Iron Stands
Offered for sale is a pair of outstanding Western African (Guinea) Baga society carved and painted wood serpent...
Category
Late 20th Century Guinean Tribal Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Burmese Tribal Markers Wooden Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Two Burmese chin state tribal markers. Tribal Territory markers collected within the chin state Burma (Myanmar). Each piece is primitively carved with a face and a collection of item...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Burmese Mounted Objects
Materials
Hardwood
$3,600 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Pair of African Tribal Live Edge African Sculptural Panels
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of exotic hard wood panels with hand carved wood tribal male and female figures. Each panel with three hand carvings spaced evenly on the panels, mid-20th century. 53.5 inches...
Category
Vintage 1950s African Tribal Wall-mounted Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Fine Yoruba Ibeji Female Pair African Tribal Art
Located in London, GB
Good of female Yoruba Ibeji Figures
Finely carved in dense wood with linear decoration to the body
Nigeria Period Early 20th century
Size: 27 and 25 cm Condition: Good
Fine...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Pair of 'Reunited' 1930's Bamileke Anthropomorphic Flutes, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
Together, these two finely carved flutes display a wonderful interplay of the abstracted forms of a 'male' and 'female' figure. A strip of snake skin has been wrapped around the 'bo...
Category
Early 20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
More Ways To Browse
African Carved Wooden Figures
Beaded Sculptures
Used String Instruments
African Tribal Figures
Vintage African Beads
Vintage Tribal Beads
Carved Gourds
Wooden Tribal Sculpture
Vintage Tanzania
African Beaded Sculpture
Tanzanian Wood
African Gourd
Dried Gourd
Used Zithers
Vintage Wooden Trough
Vintage Recording Studio Light
William Tolliday
Antique Crosscut Saws