English: An incomplete copper alloy Jews harp of probable Post-Medieval date (AD 1500 – AD 1800). Length 56.2mm, width of head 25.5mm and 5.2mm maximum thickness at the apex of the head. Weight 15.76g.

The lyre-shaped instrument is symmetrical in plan. It has a circular head and tapering arms both of which are characteristically lozenge-shaped in cross-section. The outer diameter of the head is 25.5mm. At the apex, on the front face, is a rabbet (about 2.0mm in width) to accommodate the iron prong which is now missing, although a small portion of the corroded prong has survived within the rabbet. The arms are 5.0mm in width at their junction with the head and their width is about 3.8mm at the other end. There are file marks on all surfaces.

The instrument is in fair condition and only traces of a mid-green patina have survived. Where a patina has not survived the surface colour of the metal is dull reddish.

Geoff Egan of The Museum of London has commented on Medieval jews harps:

The jew’s harp, or trump, is an ancient folk instrument with a wide geographical distribution. It is indigenous to South-east Asia, and was certainly introduced to Europe by the time of the Crusades…The European jew’s harp, familiar today, is made of metal, usually iron, and the tongue is a separate component hammered into a rabbet in the thickest part of the frame. At its other end the tongue is bent into a prong, but this rarely survives in archaeological contexts. In play, the instrument is held in one hand and the frame is lightly supported between the player’s teeth, while the metal tongue is plucked with the fingers on the other hand. The mouth cavity acts as a resonator and the pitch is modified by the position of the lips, tongue and cheeks (Egan, G. 1998.”The Medieval Household Daily Living c. 1150 - c. 1450”. 284. London: The Stationery Office.

Similar examples are illustrated in Bailey, G, 1993, ‘Detector Finds 2’, 76-7, refs. 4-6. Bailey (page 76) suggests that these examples date to the eighteenth century.

See also:

Elliston-Erwood, F. C. 1944. "Notes on Bronze Objects from Shooters Hill, Kent and Elsewhere and on the Antiquity of the Jew's Harp". Archaeologia Cantiana. 34-40. Kent Archaeological Society.