Exhibition description

Bandura.
Wood, bone, metal. Left Bank Ukraine. Handmade. Carving. Decorative burning. Early 20th century.
Traditional folk stringed musical instrument decorated with narrative and ornamental images using the burning technique. The back of the bandura is decorated with decorative floral ornamentation, heraldic motifs, and narrative scenes: a Cossack with a bandura, figures of a saint and a warrior, crossed flags and weapons – symbols of Cossack glory. The letters ‘EG’ are engraved on the neck of the bandura. The decoration of the musical instrument combines folk, religious and heroic motifs, which emphasise the role of the bandura player as the keeper of the memory of the Ukrainian people.