Although based in London, Henry Stark was an important figure in the development of the Irish bagpipes. In the early 20th century, there was a revival of interest in the 'Irish war-pipe', an outdoor bagpipe used in Ireland until the 18th century. In 1908, Stark patented the 'Brian Boru' bagpipe design, which he named after a 10th century Irish king. Although loosely based on the war-pipe, the new instrument had four key-covered holes added to increase the number of pitches available.

Brian Boru bagpipe. 1908 patent. Cocuswood blowpipe and chanter with four nickel silver keys (three leather pads). Rosewood drone stock with three jointed cocuswood drones of three different lengths (octaves and fifth). String lapped tenons. Unfinished reed (with lapping but uncut), probably associated with bass drone. Leather inner bag, a canvas intermediate bag and green wool outer bag with fringe trim. Decorative green cord and tassels. Green and red silk ribbon on the bass chanter. Nickel silver plated ferrules and ivory bell disc on end of chanter. Nickel-plated plaque on stock stamped: 'H.STARCK/MAKER/LONDON'; bell disc on chanter stamped: 'H.STARCK/LONDON/PATENTEE'.

bagpipes
2004.1213
Musical Instruments

12 items (description level: top)

422.112-7; 422.22-62

Broad category

Aerophone

Additional names, titles, or classifications

object name (Horniman Ethno.):  bagpipes
common name:  Brian Boru bagpipes
classified as:  422.112-7
classified as:  422.22-62

Maker

Starck, H.

Additional maker information

maker:  Starck, H. 

Place

London, England, UK; Europe

Additional place information

made:  London 

Date made

1908 - 1930

Additional date information

date made:  1908-1930 
1908 - 1930 
1908 

Materials and techniques

leather; copper alloy; German silver; steel; ivory; cocuswood; string; cord; silk; canvas; wool; textile; plating

Additional material & technique information

material: leather (inner bag, pads)
material: wool (outer bag)
technique: textile (outer bag)
material: copper alloy (keys, ferrules)
material: German silver (keys, ferrules)
technique: plating (keys, ferrules)
material: steel (springs)
material: ivory (ferrule (chanter))
material: cocuswood (blowpipe, chanter, drones)
material: string (tenons)
material: cord (decorative cord)
material: silk (decorative sash)
material: canvas (intermediate bag)

Measurements

overall: 1370 x 590 x 95 mm

Additional measurement information

overall: 1370 x 590 x 95 mm

Acquisition supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund

Boosey & Hawkes Collection

Related subjects

classified as:  bagpipes 
classified as:  422.112-7 (Single) reedpipes with double (or quadruple) reeds with conical bore with fingerhole stopping 
classified as:  422.22-62 Sets of reedpipes with single reeds with flexible air reservoir 
material:  German silver 
material:  copper alloy 
material:  ivory 
material:  cord 
material:  cane 
material:  leather 
material:  wool 
material:  canvas 
technique:  plating 
material:  cocuswood 

Record created 2003-12-17 by JCORT

Record last updated 2012-03-27 by RJENNINGS