Jul 7, 2014 · Human and animal remains, bones, and skulls have long been associated with musical instruments, either as decoration or as, in the case of this lyre, one of the key components. The oldest playable instruments in the world are red-crowned crane-bone flutes—relics dating to the Neolithic Age, some 7,500 to 9,000 years ago.

May 28, 2024 · The Central African lyre made from a human skull and antelope horns is a fascinating artifact that exemplifies the blending of cultural practices and the creation of objects for trade in the 19th century.

Title: Lyre. Date: 19th century. Culture: Central African. Medium: Human skull, wood, antelope horn, skin, gut, hair. Dimensions: 5 1/8 × 14 3/8 × 5 1/2 in. (13 × 36.5 × 14 cm) Classification: Chordophone-Lyre-plucked. Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889. Object Number: 89.4.1268

The lyre, measuring 36.5 cm in length, 14 cm in width, and 13 cm in depth, is a masterpiece fashioned from an unconventional array of materials: Human Skull : The instrument’s main body, forming its somber and evocative centerpiece.

4 days ago · In the 19th century, a unique and intriguing artifact emerged from Central Africa – a lyre crafted from a human skull and antelope horns. This remarkable instrument, now housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, is a testament to the intersection of art, music, and cultural exchange.

Jul 7, 2021 · Title photo and above, a 19th century Sudanese lyre or tanbūra / tanbūr or rababa, known in Northern Sudan as kissar, from the Nubian word ko:s (bowl), also used to refer to the cavity of the skull. The lyre belongs to The British Museum’s Sudan Collection.

Large musical instrument, lyre, with two 'arms' set into a semi-spherical resonator of wood covered with skin, into which two circular apertures have been cut, giving the appearance of a face.

The skull lyre blends tradition and artistry with a skull design, producing a haunting yet mesmerizing sound for musicians and art lovers.

Jun 3, 2015 · In common with many African artefacts, the lyre is anthropomorphic, with eyes, nose and outstretched arms – even the name kissar means ‘skull’ and refers to the bulbous resonator of the instrument.

Oct 7, 2022 · One lyre-like instrument from Central Africa features a resonator fashioned from an actual human skull. Some specialists say that this instrument may possess a ceremonial purpose.