Traditional musical instruments in Uzbekistan were made from several tree species. They were considered the most "singing".
The favorite type of wood for craftsmen engaged in making dutar, tanbur and other musical instruments in the urban culture of Turkestan, as well as in present-day Uzbekistan, is the mulberry tree (used both in the body and sounding board). It was usually combined with the apricot and walnut tree (for fingerboards).
Often the instruments were inlaid with a trapezoidal plate of white bone, onto which an ornament was applied. It consisted of carved circles with a dot in the middle, known in local tradition as balik kuz (fish eye).
Such instruments were popular with elite musicians that served the urban enlightened society.
Even more interesting facts about traditional musical instruments in Uzbekistan can be found in the book-album Musical Legacy of Uzbekistan in the Collections of the Russian Federation from the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections series.
The general sponsor of the project "Cultural legacy of Uzbekistan in the world collections" is the oilfield services company Eriell Group.