On View
Slavery and Freedom Gallery
Exhibition
Slavery and Freedom
Attributed to
Unidentified
Subject of
Boucher, William Esperance Jr., American
Date
ca. 1850s
Medium
wood , metal , animal skin or synthetic materials
Dimensions
37 1/2 × 12 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (95.3 × 31.8 × 8.9 cm)
Description
Banjo made in the style of William Esperance Boucher, Jr. (circa 1850s). The banjo has a circular head, with a tension head pulled tight across the front. There is a slightly tilted bridge on the head, with a tailpiece at the bottom holding the strings bottom in place along the rim. Both the tailpiece and the bridge are made of the same medium brown wood. There are metal brackets surrounding the rim of the banjo. This banjo is an early style of five-string banjos, which has four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. The neck and fingerboard of the banjo is made of the same medium glossy wood as the back of the head. There are four wooden turning keys and pegs on the top, with a 5th string turning peg, also made of wood, about halfway up the neck or fingerboard.
Place made
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
Cultural Place
West Africa, Africa
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Musical Instruments
Type
banjos
Topic
African diaspora
Craftsmanship
Music
Resistance
Slavery
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Robert Bockee Winans
Object number
2014.311
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57a808b35-d6fd-43a6-b206-1e039a7d44bd

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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