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Taus

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
India (made)

This musical stringed instrument is played with a bow. The fanciful use of the peacock (ta'us) shape for the main body is common.

The body in the form of a peacock, lacquered with feathers in the tail; the neck long, with frets, and partly lacquered.

Object details

Category
Musical Instruments
Object type
Taus
Materials and techniques
Lacquered wood and peacock feathers
Brief description
Stringed musical instrument in the form a peacock, North India, 19th century.
Physical description
This musical stringed instrument is played with a bow. The fanciful use of the peacock (ta'us) shape for the main body is common.

The body in the form of a peacock, lacquered with feathers in the tail; the neck long, with frets, and partly lacquered.
Dimensions
  • Height: 38.1cm
  • Width: 103.5cm
  • Depth: 130mm
Gallery label
(15/09/2015)
TA'US OR MAYURI VINA
Painted and lacquered wood, ivory, parchment and peacock feathers, with metal strings
North India
1800-80
182-1882
From the collection of Carl Engel
The ta'us (‘peacock’) is played with a bow. The lower end of the instrument sits on the floor with the upper end resting on the left shoulder of the musician sitting cross-legged. The taus emerged from the Punjab region and became popular in northern and central India. It accompanied courtly nautch (dance) performances but it is also associated with Sikh devotional music. Many credit its invention to one of the great Sikh Gurus.
Credit line
Purchase (Engel Collection)
Object history
Purchase (Engel Collection). This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.
Bibliographic references
  • Jackson, Anna and Ji Wei (eds.) with Rosemary Crill, Ainsley M. Cameron and Nicholas Barnard, compiled by the Palace Museum, translated by Yuan Hong, Qi Yue and Liu Ran. The Splendour of India' Royal Courts : Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Beijing: the Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013. Text in English and Chinese. ISBN 9787513403917. pps.84 and 85
  • Bor, Joep and Bruguière, Philippe (eds.). Gloire des princes, louange des dieux : patrimoine musical de l'Hindoustan du XIVe au XXe siècle. Paris : Musée de la musique : Réunion des musées nationaux, 2003. ISBN 2711846687 ; 9782711846689. p. 146, cat. no. 86.
  • Skelton, Robert, et al, The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 p. 164, no. 563
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
182-1882

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15462/taus-unknown/
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