What's a lyre.

A lyre is a seriously ancient musical instrument.

The ancient Greeks loved it, and the Egyptians used it.

It probably goes back 4,000 years, perhaps more in it's most basic form.

In more modrn times the Irish and the Welsh both used it, either as a precursor or as a poor cousin to the harp (say 800 to 1300AD). Don't hang any heavy hats on my dates.

The one pictured isn't quite that old, in fact I'm still working on it, though I started it about 12 months ago.

I wasn't happy with the standard of joinery so I put it away for six months or so. Then I had a moment of inspiration that put all to rights. I think it'll be good when finished.

The arms are of two different New Zealand timbers, glue laminated in three strips to form the curve.

The top bar is of Northern Territory stringybark; very hard and strong, ideal to carry the zither pins I use for tuning. Unfortunately it's not a pleasant timber to work - it smells like dog poo when cut/planed/sanded. But it looks and performs well, and you don't get the smell once the job is finished.

More on lyres later. Play well. All the best from vsquared