THE TAMBORITZA is the national instrument of Croatia. If you google the word you will see and read about this very old instrument-but I doubt you will see one as graceful and pretty as this one. It belonged to the mother of a friend of mine who played it as a girl at the turn of the century in the Croatian community of Fairhaven, a district of Bellingham. The local Croatians taught their children to play it and enjoyed a Tamboritza band.
 | This lovely instrument is still in solid condition even though it lacks it bridge, strings and end piece, but all of that could easily be replaced Notice the "every other" placement of the frets after the 5th fret. Wouldn't you love to get this strung up and see how in the world to play it. The "junebug" body appears to be carved from a solid piece of wood. The soundboard appears made of spruce and the graceful ebony and shell inlay are wonderful. A very pretty old instrument indeed |
| Here is the back of this graceful beauty. While it appears to be carved from a single piece of wood, closer observation reveals it is four separate sections glued together. The neck is impossibly long and thin but appears straight as a die. |  |