Hammered Dulcimer on Plinth in Puno Museum

Warm candlelight pools across the taut strings of a hammered dulcimer resting on a rough-hewn wooden stand. The instrument sits centered on a stone plinth, its wooden body showing deep grain patterns and signs of age. Soft shadows stretch along the surrounding walls, where the monsoon season has left the air heavy and still. Light catches the metal strings, creating a line of bright highlights against the darker wood. The three-quarter angle reveals the triangular shape of the soundboard and the intricate arrangement of tuning pins. One brass hammer lies beside the strings, its handle worn smooth by use, resting on the dark stone surface.