Kemençe thumbnail 1
Kemençe thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Kemençe

1850-69 (Made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The word ‘kemençe’, which means ‘small bow’ or ‘small bowed instrument’ in Persian, was used for the spike fiddle known today as the rebab (the term ‘spike fiddle’ in organology is the common name for bowed instruments with a body generally in the shape of a cut globe, and a long cylindrical neck that passes through the body, which are played upright). The kemânçe, also kalled kemân, was the only bowed instrument used in Turkish classical music up until the eighteenth century. The kemânçe was replaced by the European viola d’amore (known in Turkish as sinekemanı, or ‘breast fiddle’), and later by the European violin. The pear-shaped kemençe entered the classical ensemble towards the middle of the nineteenth century. Earlier versions of this instrument, like this example, had three gut strings, although more recent versions have been fitted with four metal strings. Owing to its soft timbre, the kemençe is played both solo and in ensembles.

This example could have been made for the Ottoman palace or mansions by great masters such as Büyük İzmitli (from the town of Izmit) or Barovak Baron, both craftsmen renowned for their delicate and detailed inlay. At this time, there were also a considerable number of Greeks who resided in Ottoman Turkey, in the region formerly known as Pera (today Beyoğlu), who were equally respected for their fine craftsmanship.
According to Carl Engle’s A Descriptive Catalogue of the Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum (London, 1874), pp. 207-10, “The musical instruments in Turkey are chiefly made in Constantinople [Istanbul]. The woods principally used in their construction are from the twon of Ismid [Izmit] and Bartan in Asia Minor; and also from Abasa in Trans-Caucasia. Rose wood and ebony are imported from India, and mahogany from America…The tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl, and ivory are imported from Egypt, and from Yemen and Hedjaz in Arabia.”


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Kemence
  • Bow (Chordophone Component)
  • Fragment
  • Fragment
Materials and techniques
Planed and joined wooden body, inlaid with ivory and tortoise-shell; carved ivory tuning pegs
Brief description
Small stringed instrument made of wood with mother of pearl, tortoise and bone inlay, Turkey, Ottoman period, 1850-69
Physical description
A small stringed instrument. Its body, reminiscent of a half pear, its elliptical pegbox (‘kafa’ or head), and neck (‘boyun’) are all carved from a single piece of wood. On its face are two large D-shaped sound holes, with the rounded sides facing out, three strings of gut, and three long tuning-pegs of ivory. The upper neck is delicately decorated with ivory inlay upon tortoise shell, depicting a winged bird perched above a vertical row of floral sprays emerging from a slender vase. Along the back of the begbox is a similar inlay panel of scrollwork and rosettes.
Dimensions
  • Total length: 41cm
  • Width: 15cm
Measurements taken from the V & A's Registered Descriptions.
Object history
This instrument was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle at Paris in 1867 and was bought by the Museum in 1869 for £7 - 5 - 9 (£7.29p). It was described as "Modern Turkish" when acquired.
Summary
The word ‘kemençe’, which means ‘small bow’ or ‘small bowed instrument’ in Persian, was used for the spike fiddle known today as the rebab (the term ‘spike fiddle’ in organology is the common name for bowed instruments with a body generally in the shape of a cut globe, and a long cylindrical neck that passes through the body, which are played upright). The kemânçe, also kalled kemân, was the only bowed instrument used in Turkish classical music up until the eighteenth century. The kemânçe was replaced by the European viola d’amore (known in Turkish as sinekemanı, or ‘breast fiddle’), and later by the European violin. The pear-shaped kemençe entered the classical ensemble towards the middle of the nineteenth century. Earlier versions of this instrument, like this example, had three gut strings, although more recent versions have been fitted with four metal strings. Owing to its soft timbre, the kemençe is played both solo and in ensembles.

This example could have been made for the Ottoman palace or mansions by great masters such as Büyük İzmitli (from the town of Izmit) or Barovak Baron, both craftsmen renowned for their delicate and detailed inlay. At this time, there were also a considerable number of Greeks who resided in Ottoman Turkey, in the region formerly known as Pera (today Beyoğlu), who were equally respected for their fine craftsmanship.
According to Carl Engle’s A Descriptive Catalogue of the Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum (London, 1874), pp. 207-10, “The musical instruments in Turkey are chiefly made in Constantinople [Istanbul]. The woods principally used in their construction are from the twon of Ismid [Izmit] and Bartan in Asia Minor; and also from Abasa in Trans-Caucasia. Rose wood and ebony are imported from India, and mahogany from America…The tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl, and ivory are imported from Egypt, and from Yemen and Hedjaz in Arabia.”
Bibliographic reference
Carl Engel, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum, (London, 1874), p. 207 - 211.
Collection
Accession number
1009-1869

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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