Tambura - šargija
Bosna, the 2nd half of the 19th century
wood
trimming, cutting, carving, ignition
length of the instrument = 89 cm
length of the neck = 51,5 cm
body = 16,50 x 36,70 cm
length from the first peg to the bottom of the instrument = 75,2 cm
length from the first peg to the nut = 64.5 cm
Et 13388
The Collection of Musical Instruments
The šargija is skillfully made. The body and the neck are crafted from one block of wood, the soundboard from another. The fret wires on the long neck are made of brass wire. There are four pegs for tightening the strings which run to the resonant box over the bridge.
The šargija is a type of tambura similar to the contra, but slightly bigger. It sometimes accompanies dances. The šargija player is called “šargijaš”. Within the Museum collection the šargijas represent Turkish influence. The šargijas were skillfully made and are of high quality. They were made by a skilled artisan. The four-stringed šargija was played alongside the small two-stringed šargija, just like the contra which was played alongside a smaller tambura, An additional name - the contra (bugarija) - was written in the catalogue card for this šargija.
