Sounds of the world, musical instruments made of bone, horn and ivory, 21 January - 21 June 1998 Special exhibition in the Studio Museum f. Völkerkunde: "Gumbri (Algeria), Gimbri (Tunisia) Shell spear lutes: often played by travelling musicians in North Africa. A tortoise shell serves as a resonator. The rear position of the pegs is typical of many North African lute forms. The travelling musicians play on the occasion of religious festivals and at markets, and the instruments are mainly played to accompany singing." The body is a longitudinal oval tortoise shell with a glued-on membrane. The strings are supported by a round wooden stick which, resting on the edge of the shell, passes under the membrane and pierces the body wall with its reduced circumference spike extension. Two whorled wooden pegs arranged at the back with a flattened, drop-shaped peghead. One peg, the missing strings, the neck wrapping around the strings and the bridge have been replaced. The string carrier is also attached to the resonator with an iron nail. The tailpiece and body top are painted in several colours with floral and other motifs on a silver, blue and red background. A decoratively turned neck tip. from Ulrich Wegner: Afrikanische Saiteninstrumente, Staatliche Museen Berlin - SPK, 1984 (Appendix Object Catalogue)