Cool Working Antique Jew's Harp Or Jaw Harp ~ Made In England 3"

Provenance: This item comes from the historic Ives Family Estate. The Ives family came to America from England. Although there were several notable members, the one who is the most famous is Charles Edward Ives - A classical music composer who is in the same caliber as the most renowned classical composers known today.

From Wikipedia:
Although this instrument is used by lackeys and people of the lower class, this does not mean it is not worthy of consideration by better minds ... The trump is grasped while its extremity is placed between the teeth in order to play it and make it sound ... Now one may strike the tongue with the index finger in two ways, i.e., by lifting it or lowering it: but it is easier to strike it by raising it, which is why the extremity, C, is slightly curved, so that the finger is not injured ... Many people play this instrument. When the tongue is made to vibrate, a buzzing is heard which imitates that of bees, wasps, and flies ... [if one uses] several Jew's harps of various sizes, a curious harmony is produced.
~ Marin Mersenne, Harmonie Universelle (1636)

Etymology:
There are many theories for the origin of the name Jew's harp. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this name appears earliest in Walter Raleigh's Discouerie Guiana in 1596, spelled "Iewes Harp". The "jaw" variant is attested at least as early as 1774 and 1809, the "juice" variant appeared only in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

It has also been suggested that the name derives from the French "Jeu-trompe" meaning "toy-trumpet". (Though in the French idiom, if two substantives are joined together, the qualifying noun is invariably the last.)

Both theories—that the name is a corruption of "jaws" or "jeu"—are described by the OED as "baseless and inept". The OED says that, "More or less satisfactory reasons may be conjectured: e.g. that the instrument was actually made, sold, or imported to England by Jews, or purported to be so; or that it was attributed to Jewish people, suggesting the trumps and harps mentioned in the Bible, and hence considered a good commercial name."

Commensurate with age

18%

Diana Clarke (TEXTS PREFERRED) | (551) 206-3187 | auctionhousegalleriesusa@gmail.com

Pickup Details

DANBURY, CT 06810

Danbury, CT 06810

When to Pickup

Monday, 1/18 through Saturday, 1/23, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

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