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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy Jews harp, dating to the Post Medieval period, between AD 1540 - 1800 (length: 60mm; width at terminals: 34mm; diameter at head: 29mm; thickness at head: 6.5mm; weight: 18.2g).The Jews harp is similar to an 'n' shape in plan with a lozenge-shaped section. The rounded head (outer diameter: see above; inner diameter: 16.5mm; thickness: see above) has a small central restriction or lip (length: 4.5mm; width: 2.5mm) for the tongue, which is now missing. There are traces of iron corrosion at this restriction/ lip, which would suggest the tongue was probably made of iron. There is a slight kink to either side of the end of the rounded head, where the arms (length of arms: 38mm) then protrude outwards to a rounded point as well as splaying outwards towards the terminals. The artefact is in a worn but fair condition with a light green patina.Similar examples are illustrated in Bailey, G, 1993, 'Detector Finds 2', pages 76-7, ref nos 4-6, which also date to the 18th century AD. Bailey states [page 76] that the jews harps were used as a small musical instrument although 'the iron strip which was twanged to create the sound has usually rusted away and sometimes the only evidence of its existence is in the form of a rusty mark at the bow section of the harp....Most jews harps can be attributed to the 17th or 18th centuries although, more rarely, medieval examples do turn up'.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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