Ko-Tze
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
gourd, bamboo
Dimensions
2-1/2 in. x 4 in.
Classification
Aerophone-Whistle Flute-whistle
Culture
Chinese
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.1682
Art Historical Context
This Ko-Tze, a delicate Chinese whistle flute from the late 19th century, exemplifies the resourceful use of natural materials in traditional instrument-making. Crafted from a gourd body paired with bamboo, the compact instrument measures just 2-1/2 by 4 inches, suggesting it was designed for portability and intimate performance. As an aerophone classified specifically as a whistle flute, it produces sound through air vibration, likely creating clear, bird-like tones valued in Chinese musical traditions. Gourds and bamboo have long held cultural significance in East Asian craftsmanship, prize...