he banjo is a modern adaptation of an instrument played by west African slaves in the New World beginning in the seventeenth century. In Martinique, among other countries, it was associated with the calinda dance, which was later banned by the settlers. The banjo was popularized by black minstrels in the United States in the early twentieth century and subsequently marketed in its present form in the United States and England.

Banjo By Thomas Dorward Halifax, Nova Scotia 1974 Maple, walnut, rosewood, abalone, mother-of-pearl, plastic, metal Overall length: 90 cm; diameter of body: 29 cm; sides: 7 cm

The frame of this banjo is made of maple plywood, and the neck of maple and walnut plywood, decorated on the back with a double purfling. The peg box is shaped like a stylized violin.

     

Thomas Dorward

Thomas Dorward was born and grew up in Denver, Colorado. He built his first instrument, a classical guitar, when he was still in high school and had already made three guitars by the time he entered the University of Michigan to study psychology. During his three years of studies, he repaired and constructed musical instruments. In 1969, he enrolled at Dalhousie University to develop his skill and made several types of instruments, including guitars, Appalachian dulcimers and banjos. Shortly after his graduation, he and his wife, Marla, opened the Halifax Folklore Centre to buy, sell, trade, repair and construct stringed instruments; they later broadened their scope to include a large amount of repair work on instruments of the violin family. For fifteen years or so, Thomas Dorward has been particularly interested in making archtop instruments; he has also added the American A-Style Mandolin to his line of instruments.