Triple Harp

Wooden Welsh triple harp. Soundbox made of nine staves. Soundboard made of one slightly curved piece with grain running lengthways; small screws are visible holding it in place at top. The soundboard is pierced by six holes about 2 cm in diameter located three on each side, 10 cm, 54 cm and 98 cm from top of soundboard respectively. These holes provide the only opening into the soundbox as the bottom is sealed by a plank. There is an internal, but no external string band. The strings are held in place by string pegs (16 missing, remaining ones a random assortment, some hand whittled), staples above each string hole and some regularly spaced not immediately above the holes. Three rows of gut strings, 29, 32, 37 strings respectively. Strung on right hand side of stepped neck, the neck is strengthened by a strip of metal, probably brass screwed all along underside. Thin straight column, high head, significant narrowing of shoulder just below collar joint. The harp has no back feet. There are some thin unvarnished gut strings still on harp, the one unbroken string is too loose to sound. The harp is very plain with two scrolls, one at head, one at top of shoulder.