Detail of a clarsach associated with Mary, Queen of Scots

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This is a detail from a clarsach dating from around 1500, said to have been given by Mary, Queen of Scots to Beatrice Gardyn of Banchory in 1563. The detail shows the pegs on the harmonic curve.

The clarsach is made of three sections: the soundbox, the forepillar and, at the top joining these two sections, the harmonic curve. The strings were attached to pegs set into 'stringbands' on either side of the harmonic curve.

Beatrice Gardyn's son John had a servant in 1588 called Anthony McEwan VcChlairser - 'son of the harper' - which provides a clue as to who might have played this clarsach.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-002-323-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.LT 1
• Date: Around 1500
  c. 1500
  
• Material: Clarsach / harp
  
• Dimensions: 812 x 510 mm
  
• What: Clarsach / harp
  
• Subject: Musical instruments (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Beatrix Gardyne of Banchory (Owner)
  Mary, Queen of Scots (Presenter)
  Robertson of Lude
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Perthshire, Atholl
  
• Event:
• Description: Clarsach or Highland harp said to have been given by Mary, Queen of Scots, to Beatrix Gardyne of Banchory while on a hunting trip in Atholl, c. 1563, made in the West Highland region, c. 1500
  
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