Early Irish Culture and Society | Online Course
A Description of Brian Boru’s Harp
This harp stands at a height of 32 inches, showcasing extraordinary workmanship. The founding board is crafted from oak, with arms made of red sally. The uppermost arm’s front extremity is adorned with finely crafted silver, housing a large crystal set in silver, with another now-lost stone beneath it.
The ornamental knobs on the sides of this arm are made of silver. The front arms proudly display the arms of the O’Brien family, intricately chased in silver, featuring bloody hands supported by lions. On the sides of the front arm, within two circles, two Irish wolf dogs are artfully carved into the wood.
The sounding board’s holes, where the strings entered, are elegantly adorned with scutcheons of brass carved in gilt. The large sounding holes, likely embellished with silver, have unfortunately been subject to theft. This harp boasts 28 keys and an equal number of string holes, indicating a corresponding number of strings.
Regrettably, the foot piece or rest is broken off, and the connecting parts show signs of significant decay. Nevertheless, the entire instrument bears witness to the craftsmanship of an expert artist.