Object ID
1998.5.3
Object Name
Zither
Date Created
1900
Material
Metal; Wood
Object Entities
US Guitar Zither, Menzenhauers Guitar Zither (created by)
Mezenhauer, (created by)
Harry Boolookas, father of donor (owned by)
Boolookas, Georgia (is related to)
Mezenhauer, (created by)
Harry Boolookas, father of donor (owned by)
Boolookas, Georgia (is related to)
Related Items
Access Points
Object Description
This is a zither; a shallow wooden box with a circular opening in the center used for making music. The box is a red-brown mahogany color and has metal strings stretched lengthwise across its face. Each of the strings is fastened at the top with a tiny knob. In the upper left-hand corner, there is a gold logo with an oval-shaped depiction of Niagara Falls above it. The center hole is decorated with a gold painted embellishment that includes an artistic arrangement of geometric patterns and neo-classical ribbons and leaves. At the bottom, there is a horizontal gold-painted bar with string names and/or chords under each of the appropriate string(s).
Origin
In September 1895 Friederich Menzenhauer (father of guitar-zither) was granted the first patent for a "Meetallophone Zither." At the end of 1896 his company Mezenhauer Guitar Zither Co leased a two story tin roofed building in Jersey City. In 1897 recieved a patent for a "Harp Cithern."
This one belonged to Georgia's father Harry J Boolookas who arrived in the US in 1902.
This one belonged to Georgia's father Harry J Boolookas who arrived in the US in 1902.
Rights and Reproduction
The content on this site is made available for research and education purposes only. The use of these materials may be restricted by law or the donor.
Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.
For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.
For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Zither, 1900, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/8474. Accessed 05/01/24.