Plucked Dulcimer and Case used by Jean Ritchie: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This teardrop shaped plucked dulcimer was made by George Pickow in Viper, Kentucky in 1951. The body is made of walnut, poplar, and maple. The fingerboard is half-fretted and the top has two heart-shaped sound holes. The scroll is exceptionally hand-carved. Pickow made this dulcimer for Jean Ritchie as a wedding gift, and it was completed nine months after their marriage in September of 1950.

The custom-made dulcimer case is made of wood and covered with black leatherette. It has two brass latches, three brass hinges, and a plastic handle. The top of the lid has stitching around its front and sides. The interior is lined with purple plus and has a small compartment on the left side. The outside of the case is covered with stickers. This dulcimer and case were used by American folk music singer and songwriter, and Appalachian dulcimer player, Jean Ritchie (1922-2015).

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1951
• user: Ritchie, Jean
• maker: Pickow, George
• Object Name: dulcimer
• Physical Description: wood (dulcimer & case material)
• Physical Description: metal (dulcimer & case material)
• Physical Description: leatherette (case material)
• Physical Description: fabric (case material)
• Measurements: overall (dulcimer): 34 1/2 in x 7 3/4 in x 2 1/2 in; 87.63 cm x 19.685 cm x 6.35 cm
• Measurements: overall (case): 13 in x 42 in x 4 in; 33.02 cm x 106.68 cm x 10.16 cm
• place made: United States: Kentucky, Viper
• ID Number: COLL.DULC.000001
• catalog number: 2015.0234.01
• catalog number: 2015.0234.01.01
• accession number: 2015.0234
• Credit Line: Gift of Peter Pickow
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.