String musical instruments

The instrument is probably solid cast resin (seeing as how it's made by a resin doll company, plus the carvings would be sooo fragile if it was wood at that size!) A string instrument makes sound by being a hollow resonating chamber: it's the echo that you hear, more than the strings. A biwa/pipa looks solid but it's still hollow inside like a violin or a guitar in order to make sound.

The stock photograph is airbrushed, so you can probably get a similar look with pastels (like body blushing) and then use acrylic paint for the gold and silver. Spray-painting the blank piece to a medium tan color will give you a good neutral base.

 

Replicating the sound on a 1/3 scale would be quite hard, I think. I am not sure the strength and thickness of the strings in a 1/3 scale would work. And as already stated, it doesn't have a hollow part so I don't think it would be possible.

I once saw a music box in the shape of a mandolin, so it may be possible to do the same?

In either case, you lose either sound or look (since you have the handle of the music box sticking out).

 

someone on insta makes instruments for 1/3. Order 4 instruments with her. they looks very well made and realistic. her insta is
https://www.instagram.com/yarkokristina?igsh=MXJlbDNrbW9qNHhwcA==