Lute

Title

Lute

Year/Period

19th century

Region

Toba Batak, North Sumatra

Object Type

lutes (chordophones)

Material

wood (plant material)

Technique

carving (processes), assembling (additive and joining process), woodworking

Dimension

Object size: 73.0 x 9.7 x 12.0 cm

Accession No.

2013-00958

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Mandala Foundation

The hasapi is the Batak version of a widely popular instrument known variously as ketjapi, kecapi (Java, Malay Peninsula, Sulawesi) or kutyapi (Philippines) which suggests a very ancient heritage in the region. As with most societies, music often played an important role in Batak rituals and ceremonies. Clearly the success of the ceremony included the quality of the music and required the invocation of ancestors and deities.