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JEWS HARP
Unique ID: PUBLIC-8CD81D
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete copper-alloy cast Jews Harp dating c. 1500-1800. In cross section the harp is lozengiform, and is composed of a sub-circular head and two tapering prong-like arms which extend downwards from the object's head. The right hand arm of the two is missing c. 50% of its total length which has been snapped off in an old break. Apart from this breakage, the object is otherwise complete and undamaged. At the apex of the head, a notch or rabbat is visible which would have originally contained an iron tongue, although none of the latter survives. The object is 61.55mm in total length, while the head is 30.57mm wide and 8.66mm thick. At the propagation of the prongs the harp is 18.68mm wide, and each of the arms is some 4.53mm wide. The object weighs 22.27 grammes and demonstrates an uneven greenish brown patina.
Notes:
The Jew's 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 Crusades. The European Jew's harp 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", p.284). Jew's harps were current from the medieval period right up until the 18th century, but early examples pre 1500 are very rare.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 61.55 mm
Width: 30.57 mm
Thickness: 8.66 mm
Weight: 22.27 g
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: East Sussex (County)
District: Wealden (District)
Parish or ward: Fletching (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ4024
Four figure Latitude: 50.99836929
Four figure longitude: -0.00625319
1:25K map: TQ4024
1:10K map: TQ42SW
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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