JEWS HARP

An incomplete post-Medieval cast or wrought copper-alloy Jews harp (c. 1500-c. 1800).

The iron prong that was plucked to produce a note is missing.

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 23.8mm. At the apex, on the front face, is a rabbet to accommodate the iron prong. The arms are complete. They are about 3.8mm in width at their junction with the head.

The surfaces are pitted, worn and and orange.

Length: 55.1mm; width: 23.8mm; thickness: 6.2mm. Weight: 10.80g.

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.

Egan, G. 1998. The Medieval Household Daily Living c.1150-c.1450. Medieval finds from Excavations in London 6. London. Museum of London: The Stationery Office.

Bailey, G. 1993. Detector Finds 2. Greenlight Publishing. Chelmsford.