2012-01-28 14:40:31 Frank Basford fbasford 2012-01-28 17:55:00 Frank Basford fbasford IOW-408DF5 JEWS HARP An incomplete post-Medieval cast copper-alloy Jews harp (c. 1500-c. 1800 AD). In plan, it has a circular head and tapering arms both of which are characteristically lozenge-shaped in cross-section. The outer diameter of the head, also lozenge-shaped in cross-section, is 22.82mm. At the apex, on the front face, is a rabbet to accommodate the iron prong. There is iron staining around the rabbet. The arms are complete. They are about 4.09mm in width at their junction with the head. The surfaces are mainly covered with light green corrosion products. It has numerous file marks overall. The iron prong that was plucked to produce a note is missing. 51.26 x 22.82 x 6.16mm. Weight: 8.94g. Geoff Egan, formerly of The Museum of London has commented on Medieval Jews harps: 'The Jews harp, or trump, 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...The European Jews harp, familiar today, is made of metal, usually iron, and the tongue is a separate component hammered into a rabbet in the thickest part of the frame. At its other end the tongue is bent into a prong, but this rarely survives in archaeological contexts. In play, the instrument is held in one hand and the frame is lightly supported between the player's teeth, while the metal tongue is plucked with the fingers on the other hand. The mouth cavity acts as a resonator and the pitch is modified by the position of the lips, tongue and cheeks' (Egan, G. 1998. 'The Medieval Household Daily Living c. 1150 - c. 1450'. 284. London: The Stationery Office. Similar examples are illustrated in Bailey, G, 1993, 'Detector Finds 2', 76-77, refs: 4-6. Bailey (page 76) suggests that these examples date to the eighteenth century. An incomplete post-Medieval cast copper-alloy Jews harp (c. 1500-c. 1800 AD). In plan, it has a circular head and tapering arms both of which are characteristically lozenge-shaped in cross-section. The outer diameter of the head, also lozenge-shaped in cross-section, is 22.82mm. At the apex, on t... Copper alloy Cast POST MEDIEVAL POST MEDIEVAL Early POST MEDIEVAL Late 1500 1800 22.82 5.26 6.16 Good Incomplete 2012-01-28 14:40:31 ISLE OF WIGHT ISLE OF WIGHT POINT( ) GPS SZ42NE SZ4627 29.06.2003 Metal detector 1 IOW Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2012 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.