Late 18th or early 19th Century Indonesian Java CelempungBeautiful and Completely Playable Antique Unique String Instrument! (with restringing)This beautiful antique instrument is very sturdy and has been very well cared for. It is a 12 pair, 24 string Celempung made in Indonesian Java. These instruments are located in museums all over the world. You will not find this beautiful hand-made instrument for purchase anywhere. However, you can find only a few of them online at all, mostly as I have said, in museums, such as nmmusd.org/Gamelan/9879/Celempung9879.html, or at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Take a look. I have done extensive research and to have one made and purchased new from an Indonesian Java Celempung maker will cost well over $15,000 dollars! This one will look and play amazing with a cleaning and new strings, or restore it to a beautiful luster from it's aged Teakwood base. I have been holding on to this for quite some time hoping to find the time and energy to do just that, but I am moving on and unfortunately have to part with this amazing piece. I have played it as the strings are solid and tuneable however a couple are missing. There are some small dings, scrapes, etc., normal wear for it's age, and it has a very nice patina to it. As I've stated in the condition description there is a small crack in the surface board but it does nothing to affect the tone and play. The white you see at the head that looks like scratches are actually something that comes off, maybe an adhesive or paint, not sure, but it will clean out. The string box lid is missing but can be replaced easily. The tuning key is missing.Take a good look and do your research. This will be a once in a big blue moon offering, at this price for such a unique and special musical instrument.Thank you and happy shopping.I have provided all known details and pictures that depict every bit of item description and condition. Please look at the pictures well and ask any questions prior to bidding.You item will be packed securely and shipped within two days. We use the global shipping program through Ebay and all items are insured to thier value.Thanks again.The siter and celempung are plucked string instruments used in Javanese . They are related to the  used in  gamelan.The siter and celempung each have between 11 and 13 pairs of strings, strung on each side, between a box resonator. Typically the strings on one side tuned to  and the other to . The siter is generally about a foot long and fits in a box (which it is set upon while played), while the celempung is about three feet long and sits on four legs, and is tuned one octave below the siter. They are used as one of the elaborating instruments (), that play  (melodic patterns based on the ). Both the siter and celempung play at the same speed as the  (which is rapidly).The name "siter" comes from the  word "citer", which corresponds to the  word "zither". "Celempung" is related to the Sundanese musical form .The strings of the siter are played with the thumbnails, while the fingers are used to dampen the strings when the next one is hit, as is typical with instruments in the gamelan. The fingers of both hands are used for the damping, with the right hand below the strings and the left hand above them.Siters and celempung of various sizes are the characteristic instrument in , although they are used in many other varieties of gamelan as well.A large, ornate, Indonesian zither with usually 12 pairs of strings strung on two sides and that stands on legs with the body sloping toward the player and is plucked with the thumbnails typically in a  ensemble <Celempung is a zither with metal strings which the player plucks with his thumbnails. There are two strings for each pitch, tuned the same and placed so close together that the player treats the pair of strings as if it were a single string. — Henry Spiller