Skip to content
Pitt Rivers Museum

1904.9.1

Syrinx pipes used ceremonially in a Temple of Confucius.


1904.9.1

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Terms and Conditions

If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.

Collection type
Object
Description
Syrinx pipes used ceremonially in a Temple of Confucius.
Long description
Syrinx used ceremonially in a Temple of Confucius. 16 pipes in 2 graduated series in one line, trebles inside, basses outside; each pipe open both ends, upper deeply notched and with bevelled `voice' edge; each engraved with Chinese characters. In large frame of solid wood, red lacquered, with gilt dragons etc., bifurcated below and scrolled. Lower parts of pipes sunk in frame, upper parts projecting.
Geographical reference
Soochow
Person
Field collector Unknown Collector
PRM source Francis William Galpin
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1904
Date collected
By 1904
Acquisition information
Donated: 1904
Materials and processes
Material Wood Plant, Material Bamboo Plant, Material Lacquer Varnish, Process Carpentered, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Incised, Process Gilded, Process Written
Dimensions
Length: max 365 mm, Width: max 379 mm, Depth: max 43 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1904.9.1
Research and responses

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Online, Soochow is also called Su-chou, Wu-hsien, Suzhou, or Wuxian, and is a city in Kiangsu province. Galpin's biography, see Biographies file, suggests that Galpin did not travel to the Far East although he was an expert on ancient musical instruments and therefore I have presumed that he only possibly collected one piece himself, from Wales [AP 18/9/2002]

Search terms: Music, Ritual and Ceremonial, Religion, Musical Instrument, Panpipes