a small wooden instrument sitting on top of a black table next to a wall mirror
Save

Saxon Lyre

$637.50
$850.00
Product Details
This is a "rote", a lyre of Saxon origin, circa 600-800 AD. My reproduction is based on several instruments found in burial mounds along the eastern coast of England, the most famous being Sutton Hoo, where an entire 7th or 8th century ship was used as the burial chamber. Artifacts from that ship and pieces of the original rote are on display in the British Museum. This one is based on instruments found in both Sutton Hoo and Prittlewell, England (found in 2001). It is hollow and made of black walnut with a wormy butternut top (minus the worms, of course). Hand-carved maple tuning pegs and an ebony tailpiece depicting medieval characters complete the period effect. It is 8" wide, 30" long, with a body .75" deep. This is a lovely sounding instrument that is popular for playing at Renaissance Fairs, SCA gatherings, medieval re-enactments, or just playing and having fun. The tuning is unknown and has been lost to history, so you can tune the six nylon strings any way you want. It can be played like a harp, or some strings can be dampened to produce chords.
etsy
Etsy
10.9M followers