The Lamont harp

Traditionally dated to the early 15th Century, though a 16th or even 17th century date is possible.

Also known as Caledonian harp or Lude Harp

On display in the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

"Small Low Headed" design;
31 strings, longest 62cm, one extra bass string added making 32

There is a colour photo of this harp in Early Music, vol.36 no.4, Nov 2008 p.523. There are photos available from the NMS at the SCRAN website.

This harp was formerly kept by the Robertson family at Lude, Perthshire, along with the Queen Mary harp. It was supposedly brought to Lude from the West Highlands by "a lady of the family of Lamont" when she married a Robertson.

From the Robertsons it passed to the Stewarts of Dalguise, and from them in 1880 it was deposited on loan in the National Museum in Edinburgh. It was sold at auction in 1904, and since the Museum had blown its budget securing the Queen Mary harp, the Lamont went for £750 to the 'patriotic Scottish antiquary', Mr. W. Moir Bryce. In that year, presumably ordered by the proud new owner, a lavishly carved oak display case was made to house the Lamont harp by the Edinburgh firm of Whytock and Reid. Presumably the circular carved base that the Lamont harp now rests on was also made at the same time.

W. Moir Bryce intimated in 1918 that the Lamont harp would be donated to the Museum, and so since 1919 it has been on permanent display there. The display case is also in the Museum, but it is now used to house the Queen Mary harp.

Click on the links to explore the history and other details of this harp.

References

Simon Chadwick