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Trossingen lyreCorbeau
Historical instrument
Reconstructed with the means, techniques and materials of its time.
Model: Trossingen lyre (6th century)
Collection: Animal Spirit
Specifications
- Body
- Ash
- Soundboard
- Walnut
- Tuning pegs
- Turned boxwood
- Tailpiece
- Olive ash
- Bridge
- Olive ash
- Strings
- Nylon or gut
- Ornamentation
- Bronze appliqués depicting birds
- Accessories
- Tuning key in turned boxwood
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Every instrument is made to order: woods, ornaments, strings and pickup are adapted to the way you play.
History and origins
Trossingen lyre · 6th century
Found in a warrior's grave in southern Germany, from the Merovingian period, this lyre is remarkably well preserved. Its body, carved from a single piece of maple, bears knife engravings highlighted with pigment: interlace on the arms, and two groups of warriors facing each other on the soundboard.
We studied it early on and have proposed several reconstructions, built with the tools of the period. It also gave rise to an electro-acoustic version.
Our work on the Merovingian lyres of Trossingen, Oberflacht and Cologne has been presented in lectures and exhibitions, notably at the Musée d'Archéologie nationale, the museum of Saint-Dizier and the archaeological museum of Konstanz.
