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Charango

1979 | Peter Kann

The charango is a plucked string instrument from the South American region of the Andes. Armadillo shell serves as the resonating body. The origins of the charango are presumably found in the Bolivian city of Potosí in the 16th century. At this time, silver deposits lured people from all over the world into the city. They brought guitars, vihuelas, and turning lyres with them. The local population, the Quechua, copied these plucked string instruments and created the charango.

The charango is a plucked string instrument from the South American region of the Andes. Armadillo shell serves as the resonating body. The origins of the charango are presumably found in the Bolivian city of Potosí in the 16th century. At this time, silver deposits lured people from all over the world into the city. They brought guitars, vihuelas, and turning lyres with them. The local population, the Quechua, copied these plucked string instruments and created the charango.

Time:
1979

Object Name
Charango

Culture
Quechua

Material/technology:
Armadillo shell, wood, mother-of-pearl, gut and wire strings, tin

Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien

Collection area
South America

Invs.
160672