Mi-gyaung
This ‘Mi-gyaung’ was donated in 1911 by C.E. Pitman. A provenance of Myeik (Mergui), Burma was noted and it can be dated to late 19th Century. The instrument consists of a wooden box zither carved in the shape of a crocodiles head, tail and feet. The instrument has two strings and five moveable raised frets on the flat belly. (Originally, this instrument would have had three strings and 8-10 raised moveable frets on the flat belly). The zither has been decorated in raised relief (possibly using ‘thayo’ technique) in red, green and gold pigment. There are eight sound holes located at various points on the body.
This instrument is important to the collection because it is no longer in use by the Burmans, however it is still associated with the Mon (an ethnic group in Southern Burma). A similar example can be seen in the Laura Boulton Collection, Indiana University, U.S.A.
This instrument is important to the collection because it is no longer in use by the Burmans, however it is still associated with the Mon (an ethnic group in Southern Burma). A similar example can be seen in the Laura Boulton Collection, Indiana University, U.S.A.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 288/1911
- Category
- Ethnography
- Collection Class
- Musical instruments
- Collection Area Region
- SE
- Material
- woodpigment
- Common Name
- mi-gyaung
- Simple Name
- musical instrument
- Production Town
- Myeik (Mergui)
- Production Country
- Myanmar
- Production Date
- 1885
