Description
Maker: Mohammed Fadhil Hussein
Year of Manufacture: 1959
Place of Manufacture: Baghdad, Iraq
Oud Type: Movable Bridge
Condition: Excellent
Serial Number: 1685
Wood and Materials
Back: Walnut and Beech
Soundboard: Cypress
Fingerboard: Hidden
What Makes This Oud Special
The most distinctive feature of this oud is its movable bridge. It is considered one of the earliest movable bridge ouds in the world, giving it exceptional significance in the history of oud development and craftsmanship.
Oud Iraq Center Evaluation
Oud Condition: Excellent
Craftsmanship Quality: Excellent
Sound Condition: Excellent
Oud Iraq Center Notes
This oud has not undergone any major restoration or comprehensive maintenance. It remains in its original condition, giving the piece special importance for collectors and enthusiasts of historical ouds and original works by Mohammed Fadhil Hussein.
About the Maker: Mohammed Fadhil Hussein
Mohammed Fadhil Hussein is considered one of the most prominent Iraqi oud makers of the 20th century and one of the figures who made a significant impact on the history of oud craftsmanship and the development of the Iraqi school.
In the mid-1950s, he invented the “Sliding Oud” and created a special oud for the great musician Munir Bashir. He is also credited with the discovery of the movable bridge, which represented a major advancement in oud design and construction.
Throughout his long career, he handcrafted more than 6,500 ouds, and his instruments were owned by kings, presidents, and leading first-class artists.
Mohammed Fadhil Hussein passed away in 2001, leaving behind an important legacy in Iraqi oud craftsmanship. The ouds that appeared under his name in later periods represent a different stage from the instruments he personally made. Therefore, his original older ouds remain especially valuable in artistic and historical terms.
For this reason, an original Mohammed Fadhil oud is not merely a musical instrument, but a precious artistic piece and a witness to the history of the Iraqi oud.
