Irish harp

Small gut-strung harp with 33 strings, resembling in size and outline the traditional wire-strung diatonic Irish harp but with a dital-operated single action with Erard-style fourchettes. Four lowest strings wound. Buttonheaded bridge-strip pegs except for the two lowest strings, which are too close to the pillar so they have stopper knots on underside of the soundboard. Soundbox of semicircular section; three pairs of soundholes along centre of back. Lower end of soundbox open. There is an extendable wooden leg, with a brass cross-piece for foot, to take the weight of the instrument when it is held on the player’s lap. Seven ditals of ivory, engraved with note names, protrude from a brass plate on the inner face of the hollow pillar. Tuned in Eb; compass Eb to bb3.