The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of October 7, 2026

A koto, an instrument across which thirteen strings run lengthwise, has a dark-brown base like a plank of wood. Pyramidal bridgelike pieces jut up, lifting seven of the strings and staggered in a rough line moving to the center of the instrument. Two legs support the instrument on one side, while it rests on the ground on the other.

Koto

early to mid-1800s

Japan, Edo period

(1615–1868)
Overall: 10.8 cm (4 1/4 in.)
The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr. 1918.383
Location: Not on view
  • "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85. Mentioned: p. 82 www.jstor.org
    D. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43. Mentioned: pp. 134-137 www.jstor.org
  • {{cite web|title=Koto|url=false|author=|year=early to mid-1800s|access-date=07 October 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1918.383