Played by the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan to accompany ritual, song and dance, the tonkori an instrument on the verge of extinction by the 1970s. Today it is being revived as an important part of Ainu heritage. The star shaped soundhole contained a ball that gave the instrument its soul.
Credit: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Late 19th century
Wood
76.2 x 7.6cm
89.4.133
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection