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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy Jews' Harp of post-medieval date c. AD 1500-1800. Only one half of the sub-U-shaped frame remains due to a worn break midway along one side. The remaining frame has a lozenge shaped section and the surviving arm tapers in width towards the open end where it terminates in an old break. The separately cast tongue no longer remains.The metal has a mid reddish-green patina and is worn. The Jews' Harp is 28.3mm long, 25.8mm wide, 5.1mm thick and weighs 6.9 grams,The jews' harp is a simple musical instrument which is played by holding the frame lightly between the teeth and plucking the metal tongue with the fingers. The mouth acts as a resonating chamber and can alter the pitch by moving the lips, cheeks and tongue.Egan (1998: p.284) explains that the jews' harp is "an ancient folk instrument with a wide geographical distribution. It is indigenous to South-East Asia, and was certainly introduced to Europe by the time of the Crusades".
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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JEWS HARP
A bent and incomplete post-medieval…
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