POST MEDIEVAL JEWS HARP

1700

Cast copper alloy jews harp, with bevelled edges so that it is lozenge-shaped in section, which flattens out as the body extends into the tapering arms. At the apex of the loop there are two parallel grooves where the iron tongue would have been attached originally. This small lyre-shaped musical instrument was used by holding the frame between the teeth and striking the iron tongue with the fingers. They were used from the Medieval period right up to the 18th century, but the earlier ones are often forged iron, are decorated with punchwork or engraving, have 'barleytwist' loops, and are uncommon finds. During the 17th and 18th century, the harps became smaller and undecorated and were usually forged of copper alloy. The main difference between the two centuries seems to be that those of the 17th century have a flattened top (Read, 1988, 209), unlike this example which is bevelled to a sharp edge.Read (1988) illustrates two similar examples on page 210, nos.1458-1459, which are dated from the 18th century.