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Set of Highland bagpipes

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by Thomas Glen, Edinburgh, c. 1850

Set of Highland bagpipes
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Set of Highland bagpipes by Thomas Glen of Edinburgh, c. 1850. Laburnum chanter with silver sole and heavy ivory mount on the tenon; marked 'T. GLEN / 2 NORTH BANK ST. / EDINBURGH'. Laburnum drones, ornately turned with drone tops mounted and shaped and decorated as thistles. Sheepskin bag with Royal Stewart tartan cover. Formerly stock of J. and R. Glen, Edinburgh, or from the collection of the firm's proprietors. This set is similar to one on loan to the Morpeth Chantry Museum in Northumberland (H.1995.480).

Thomas McBean Glen (1804-1873) was the founder of a notable firm of bagpipe makers in Edinburgh. He set up business as dealer, musical instrument and bagpipe repairer in the Cowgate in 1827. From 1833 he listed himself as 'pipe and flute maker' in the Edinburgh Directories, and made a range of woodwind instruments including flutes and clarinets. He is also credited with the invention of a type of Ophicleide. In 1836 he moved his premises to the more prestigious position of 2 North Bank Street and remained in business until 1866 when he was succeeded by his sons John and Robert. Many of his musical instrument products have survived including flutes, Highland bagpipes and small pipes. He also published a 'Tutor for the Highland Bagpipe'.

This piece comes from the Glen and Ross Collection of musical instruments which were preserved in the shop of 'J & R Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers' until it closed about 1978. This was the business founded in 1827 by Thomas McBean Glen in the Cowgate in Edinburgh, dealing in and repairing musical instruments. His brother, Alexander Glen, specialized in bagpipe-making and was succeeded by his son David. Thomas' sons, John and Robert Glen, succeeding to the business in 1866, probably did most to collect instruments and their antiquarian interests were carried on by Andrew Ross who acquired the business from the Glens in 1947. The National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland purchased the bagpipe collections from the family in 1983.

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