Essai sur la musique ancienne et moderne - circular shape

Essai sur la musique ancienne et moderne - circular shape

Jean-Benjamin François de la Borde (1734 - 1794)

1780

Monograph

Bibliothèque nationale de France: Paris, France.

This image is unique in that it depicts a circular-shaped instrument with three jingling rings. It is one of the few iconographic examples of a "circular triangle". The text labels the instrument as a "tambourine". Interestingly, the image shows the left hand holding the instrument but does not show the right hand. Thus, it isn't known through the iconography, if this instrument was played with a beater or not. Additionally, the player appears to be dancing.

Public Domain