Name of Instrument: "kakoka"

Maker / Brand: (through Franciolini)

Stearns Catalog #: 1073

Country of Origin:

Region of Origin:

Instrument Category: Chordophone

Date of Fabrication: 19th C.

Location: CHO C 1

Description: This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, we have an instrument that was found in one of Franciolini’s catalogues marked as, “No. 9, Hinnari-Vina. An Indian instrument based on the Italian system. Covered in skin with gilted flowers.” We do not have knowledge of how the 1921 Stearns Catalogue came to name the instrument a “kakoka”. If Franciolini’s shop made this instrument, it reflects a rare moment for the craftsmanship and leatherwork are of respectable quality. It is possible, however, that the shop might only have added the neck—it is extremely long (1 m) which makes playing the instrument very difficult at best. The spruce table is shaped like a drooping apple pie with two “s-shaped” sound holes (lined with parchment). The leather-covered sides are puzzling as this is not a material conducive to free vibration. The back is leather-covered spruce with highly decorative gold designs. The neck is separate from the body; the ebony fingerboard has eleven tied-on gut frets and an ivory nut. It has six piano wire strings that fasten to pegs, cross a flat, ebony, movable bridge (prism-shaped), and attach to hooks in the lower side.

Research: Dr. Bruce Mitchell Smith