Antique Museum Quality Chinese Musical Instrument; Ruan; Pipa; Magnificent Woods

Description

Very pleased to offer the finest musical instrument I've ever had.  It was brought to the U.S. after the Korean War and is
such a magical piece.  It is an antique ruan, which is a musical instrument from China.  I have looked at a thousand ruans and haven't found one as pretty as this one or anywhere near as old; I imagine it to be the best of the best considering the design and the quality of the woods used in making it.  I would love to see this one restored and possibly in a museum.  I would date this at least to the early 1800's; the patina is that good.  The ruan is an ancient four-stringed moon-shaped lute with a long straight neck and raised frets.  They are also called pipas and lutes. It measures 17.5" by 38.5" and is extremely heavy, weighing in at close to 7 pounds.  It needs considerable expert restoration, but nothing a good restorer couldn't do.  Some of the frets are missing and there is a light crack on the back, a larger one at 4 o'clock on the front and that one leads to one on the side.  The band is somewhat "jumped up" at that point.  It currently has catgut or plastic strings on it; I'm not musical, but the sound is beautiful and rich.  Thanks for taking a look and if you have any input, I would very much appreciate it.  I would also be very grateful if whoever winds up with it will send me a video of it being played after it's restored.  It will be packed with the greatest care.  Thanks.