Tanbur Kabir Turki

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments acquired in 1889 the *Tanbur Kabir Tur* is a striking example of late 19th-century Turkish. This chordophone—a plucked, fretted lute—measures an impressive 132 cm in length, 33 cm width, and 21 in depth, crafted entirely from wood. Its size, with "kabir" meaning "great" in Turkish, suggests it was designed for powerful resonance, embodying the intricate woodworking techniques of Ottoman artisans who shaped resonant bodies and long necks to produce rich, sustained tones. In Turkish musical culture, the t...