Chapter House Psaltery

Original design based on instrument depicted in wall painting in the Westminster Abbey Chapter House, London, England. It is oak , recycled Douglas fir, ebony accents, and the soundhole carvings are Eastern black walnut.

When my wife and I visited England a few years ago we signed up for a Verger-guided tour through Westminster Abbey, which allowed us access to portions of the abbey that casual visitors often miss. One of the "special" rooms we got to see was the Chapter House, in the older section of the abbey, where the walls are covered with 14th Century paintings. One wall showed many crowned and robed figures playing instruments of the period, all surrounding the heavenly host. It is strung with 14 doubled strings and has a very lovely warm tone.

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