Vina c. 1850 India, British Period (1858-1947) Painted and gilded wood with ivory veneers and inlay; copper alloy frets; iron alloy strings (with one modern copper replacement) Overall: 95.2 x 15.3 cm (37 1/2 x 6 in.) The Charles G. King, Jr. Collection. Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King, Jr. 1918.346 DESCRIPTION Many paintings of Indian court life depict female musicians holding and playing this kind of lightweight stringed instrument. Throughout most of Mughal history, music was a constant component of the courtly experience. During the early years of the Cleveland Museum of Art, arms and armor, jewelry, and musical instruments like this vina were among the first donated works CITATIONS "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85. Mentioned: p. 82 www.jstor.org D. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43. Mentioned: pp. 134-137 www.jstor.org