Random Projects

[Andy]

Just sharing some pictures of some of my random little projects, still in the construction phase. The first is an experimental lyre, never made one before so this one is a practise, hence the small size and 4 strings. I may paint this yet, any evidence of these instruments being painted?


Some bone die, approximately 1cm - 1.5cm square.



Andy

[Cassius Tullius]

Does the lyre have a sound box?

[Andy]

Yes, the body is hollow. If you mean any holes, no, it doesn't really need any.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Bet the die are loaded... :lol: Nice work.!

[Decimus Aurelius Varus]

What did you use to make the "dots" colored dark on the dice. Or is it just burned in...?

[Andy]

The dots are stained with potassium permanganate, I also have two others, one dyed with red food dye, the other blue.

[Andy]

More pictures.....a collection of shields. Far left used for steel combat, white shield unfinished.


four burner oil lamp, to hang from a chain

[Vitruvius]

Ave Andy,

Any chance of buying plans for your Lyre? I'm definitely interested in building one! To what key are you tuning it? The rest of your projects are equally interesting, but the lyre is likely to be of more immediate use to me. What sort of wood did you use? P.M. me if you don't wish to post publicly since these seem to be "experiments".

Salve,
Vitruvius
a.k.a Larry Mager

[Crispvs]

Very nice work all round.

For another idea on colouring the detail carved into bone, a traditional thing to do was to mix ask or charcoal powder with fat and rub this into the carved detail. When the surface is wiped the dark ash mixture is left only in the carved detail, highlighting it.

Crispvs

[Andy]

Thanks for that info on colouring, will have to try it out.

To make the lyre is so simple thats it's almost embarassing! The wood is an Australian wood, Tasmanian Oak. I will one day use a more suitable authentic wood when I get around to making the real deal.
I have just used two thin planks, cut them out to the desired shape with a saw, hollowed out the main belly of both halves (make the walls quite thin), glued it together, added the darker wood for the tuning pugs (another Aussie wood) and carved up tuning pegs out of bone, also a bone bridge, and bone thing at the base to attach the strings. This is just held in place with rawhide tied to it and another bone peg that is at the base of the lyre. Not sure on the tuning as I am not so musically minded, probably just keep turning the keys till it sounds alright! :wink:
As mentioned I am thinking about painting it. The natural wood look is a bit of a modern taste, something like this was surely painted and detailed with decoration.