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RCM 380 Gusle Serbian, 1930 Inscriptions Carved on the side of the peg head: J B / 1929 Carved at the top of the fingerboard and on pendant: JB Three inscriptions carved in relief on sides in Serbian: 1. МАЧ И ГУСЛЕ / ТО ДРАГО КАМЕЊЕ / СРБИНУ СУ / НАЈВЕЧЕ НАМЕЊЕ [transliteration: MAC̆ I GUSLE / TO DRAGO KAMENJE / SRBINU SU / NAYVEC̆E ZNAMENJE; translation: The sword and the gusle these precious jewels (lit. stones) to Serbs are the greatest possessions] 2. ХУГО Х ЕГЕРСДОРФЕР 1930Г [transliteration: HUGO H EGERSDORFER 1930G] 3. HUGO H EGERSDORFER / FER . KAPETAN. I. KL. / 25/III. 1930 ГОД. [transliteration: […] / 1930 GOD; translation: Hugo H Egersdorfer Captain 1st Class 25/III. 1930 year.] Four Cs, the left two in reverse, carved on the back (around opening) and the bass side (within a coat of arms: see Description) are an abbreviation of: САМА СЛОГА СРБИНА СПАШАВА [SAMA SLOGA SRBINA SPAS̆AVA; Only Unity Serbia Saves]
leaves and tendrils. All edges bordered with chip carving. Back varnished. Front fastened to edges with brass strip and nails. Tinplate clasp where front meets neck. Rawhide tail-piece attached to integral tailpin. Front of neck also carved with abstract ornament. One large posterior peg, with slot for string and ornamental pendant carved from one piece of wood. Finial a horse’s head with inset wood and brass eyes. A carved snake, also with inset eyes, entwines the neck and rears up below the horse’s head. Commentary The coat-of-arms is characteristically Serbian. The gusle was used by singers to accompany epic songs of Serbian history and poetry and it was customary to carve dates commemorating significant national events on the instruments. Yugoslavia was created in 1929; the inscriptions on RCM 380 may refer to a battle in 1930 or perhaps to the heroism or promotion of Egersdorfer. Provenance Gift of the Royal Academy of Music, December 1981 References None located
Brief description Gusle, a Serbian fiddle with a single string Dimensions : 695½ : 297 : 208 : 74 : at peg 30, at top of front 33 : (no mark of bridge placement) from peg to tail 528 Description Front of leather stretched over a body, neck and head made in one piece, of ?poplar. Front pierced with simple cross and flower shapes. A spoon-shaped back with sloping sides and flat bottom carved all over in low relief with scrolling foliage, inscriptions, and a coat of arms with a crown and double-headed eagle. Middle of back has a cross-shaped opening surrounded with carved grapes,
Gusle, Serbian, RCM 380: details of coat of arms and inscription 3
Gusle, Serbian, RCM 380 174