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Source Description
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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
98653
label
Kora
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
98653
contentType
object
title
Kora
description
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.
date
before 1918
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79862622
genreSpecific
Musical Instrument
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Diameter: 32.4 cm (12 3/4 in.); Overall: 111.8 cm (44 in.)
cul
Africa, unknown maker
accession
1918.352
Source extras
tec
Gourd, wood, rawhide, string, and rope
tombstone
Kora, before 1918. Africa, unknown maker. Gourd, wood, rawhide, string, and rope; diameter: 32.4 cm (12 3/4 in.); overall: 111.8 cm (44 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr., 1918.352
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
Musicians continue to play the kora today, including in concerts at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
citations
citation
"Accessions." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 82
citation
D. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43.
page_number
Mentioned: pp. 134-137
creditline
The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr.
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:19:26.245000
sourceId
98653
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Gourd, wood, rawhide, string, and rope
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
9a1f7b5d84359199