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Triple harp

Welsh triple harp, designed to be played on the right shoulder. Three rows of strings: two outer diatonic rows, one of 37 strings, the other of 30 beginning at B, and a central chromatic row of 32, beginning at F#. There are eight plugged unused holes on the bridge-strip at the lower end of the shorter diatonic row. Soundboard cross-grained, framed with thin painted black lines. Back of nine staves. Neck and pillar of ?beech, also with thin black outlining. Pillar with carved and gilded volutes and acanthus at top and bottom. Carved and gilded acorns and oak leaves along top of neck and across lower end of soundboard. Soundbox has turned and scalloped top-block forming junction to neck. Semi-opaque reddish varnish.

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  • Inscriptions:Engraved on brass plate on neck: "Rif 4 Cymreigyddion y Fenni/ I JOHN THOMAS yn Unarddeg Oed/Am Ragori ar y Delyn./ HYDREF 1838/Bassett Jones/Gwneuthurwr/Caerdydd/Rif 115" [No. 4. Abergavenny Welsh Gathering. To John Thomas, aged eleven, for excellence on the harp. October 1838. Bassett Jones, maker, Cardiff. No. 115.]
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  • Repository:Royal College of Music Museum
  • Measurements:Height: 2035mm. Width: 1055mm.