Notched flute

One of a pair of notched flutes (Horniman Museum numbers M14.3.61/4 and M14.3.61/5), of wood with a carved and burnt-out bore that constricts to a narrow opening at the base. The wedge-shaped head has a U-shaped notched carved out of the centre. Two raised sections at the side of each flute have fingerholes positioned at their centre. Below the heads the necks are constricted and each is tied with a tartan ribbon. The bodies are covered in lizard skin, which has a seam at the back. This example, the shorter of the two pipes has a bulbous section at the distal end that is not covered with skin.