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ID #SA1227005
FOR SALE
£160
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Tribal Art Thumb Piano
For sale by Martin Murray Antiques
for sale €187     $203
£160
Martin Murray Antiques

Martin Murray Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Dec 2024
Browse dealers 40 items
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    Specialist in early furniture and works of art
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Id #SA1227005
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Tribal Art Thumb Piano

1900 - 1920
Description

A small tribal thumb piano with good surface patina

African, early 20thc.

Height 19 cm ( 7 1/2”)

Width 16.5 cm (6 1/2”)

Date of Manufacture

Martin Murray Antiques has dated this African Thumb Piano Mbira to the 1910s.

Independent Date Check ID 09589035
Dealer's Item Date1910s
Sellingantiques Date1910s
Sellingantiques agingItem 75-130 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1910s:
Hand-forged iron keys with flattened tips: blacksmith work of the period.
Dark, rubbed patina across the timber: handling and long play.
Wire binding through drilled soundboard: traditional construction method.
Natural surface oxidisation on the tines: uncleaned age to the metalwork.

This is an independent date and photo anotation report compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1227005
Dealers Notes

For further details of any item or for a reliable shipping quote please get in touch. Shipping on items that can be posted is included in the UK

Worldwide shipping is available

Description
A small tribal thumb piano with good surface patina

African, early 20thc.

Height 19 cm ( 7 1/2”)

Width 16.5 cm (6 1/2”)

Date of Manufacture

Martin Murray Antiques has dated this African Thumb Piano Mbira to the 1910s.

Independent Date Report ID 09589035
Dealer's Item Date1910s
Sellingantiques dating1910s
Sellingantiques agingItem 75-130 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1910s:
Hand-forged iron keys with flattened tips: blacksmith work of the period.
Dark, rubbed patina across the timber: handling and long play.
Wire binding through drilled soundboard: traditional construction method.
Natural surface oxidisation on the tines: uncleaned age to the metalwork.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1227005
Martin Murray Antiques
Martin Murray Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Dec 2024

Specialist in early furniture and works of art

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Martin Murray Antiques Profile Page

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A hand-carved dark wood thumb piano fitted with numerous hand-forged iron tines held down by a wire bridge.
1 / 2
Archive I A hand-carved dark wood thumb piano fitted with numerous hand-forged iron tines held down by a wire bridge.

Tribal Art Thumb Piano

Archive II A hand-carved dark wood thumb piano fitted with numerous hand-forged iron tines held down by a wire bridge. View II
Enlarged Archival View
Martin Murray Antiques

Martin Murray Antiques
Telephone 07970 625359
Location
Near Eye
Suffolk
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/mmant
Verified Since Dec 2024
Items For Sale 40
Items Sold 97
Martin Murray Antiques
Martin Murray Antiques
Verified Since Dec 2024
View Dealer Info
Location: Near Eye, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/mmant
Verified
Dec 2024
For Sale
40
Sold
97
A hand-carved dark wood thumb piano fitted with numerous hand-forged iron tines held down by a wire bridge.
Tribal art Thumb piano
Ref: SA1227005
A hand-carved dark wood thumb piano fitted with numerous hand-forged iron tines held down by a wire bridge.
Detail View 1
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectMusical Instruments
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleAfrican Tribal
  • MaterialWood, Iron
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsForged iron tines, Carved soundboard, Wire bridge binding

This tribal thumb piano originates from the early 20th century in an African tribal style. The piece comprises a hand-carved dark wood soundboard fitted with numerous hand-forged iron tines held down by a wire bridge binding and a transverse metal restraining bar across the top. The timber displays a dark brown tone with a warm, worn surface patina reflecting extensive handling and age, while the various metal components exhibit an oxidized dark grey finish. Additional visible details include the rustic edges of the wooden body and the slightly irregular alignment of the individual tines. Measuring 19 cm in height and 16.5 cm in width, this instrument serves as a compact decorative accent. In a modern home, it sits well on a bookshelf or within a curated display of ethnographic artefacts, bringing texture and historical character to an interior shelving arrangement or display cabinet.

FAQs

An African thumb piano, commonly known as an mbira, kalimba, or sanza, is a traditional lamellophone instrument. It consists of metal tines attached to a wooden soundboard, played by plucking the keys with the thumbs and index fingers.

Traditional thumb pianos feature a soundboard fashioned from hardwood, with plucked tines crafted from hammered iron, steel wire, or repurposed metals. The keys are secured across a wooden bridge using wire bindings or metal bars.

Authentic hand-crafted instruments exhibit signs of functional wear, hand-forged metal tines with variable lengths, and carved wood soundboards showing natural patina. Mass-produced modern versions typically feature uniform, machine-stamped steel keys.

Display the instrument on an open bookshelf, mantelpiece, or styled console table tray alongside ceramic vessels and art books. Mounting the object within a shadow box frame also highlights its sculptural metallic details.

Keep the instrument in a dry, stable environment away from humidity fluctuations to prevent wood cracking and metal oxidisation. Clean gently using a soft, dry microfibre cloth and apply microcrystalline wax to protect the iron keys and timber.
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