Welcome to Instrumental History!
Step back in time with our handcrafted medieval replica instruments, meticulously made to order just for you. Whether you're aiming to serenade a courtly lady or reenact a grand tournament, our hand-made instruments promise to deliver the rich, resonant tones of days gone by. Each piece is lovingly crafted using traditional materials, ensuring you don’t just play an instrument—you tune into history!
Historical replica instruments
Featured Products
Step into the soundscape of the Middle Ages with this handcrafted Medieval Symphonie-Style Hurdy Gurdy, a faithful recreation of one of history’s most enchanting instruments.
This model features a 3-string configuration—melody, drone, and trompette—for rich, resonant tones and rhythmic buzzing effects. The fully chromatic keyboard offers modern versatility while preserving the authentic medieval aesthetic, making it perfect for early music performers, historical reenactors, and folk musicians alike.
Each hurdy gurdy is carefully crafted using traditional techniques and high-quality materials, ensuring both visual beauty and long-lasting performance. The compact Symphonie-style body design is inspired by surviving 13th-century illustrations, offering an intimate playing experience ideal for solo or small ensemble settings.
Features:
Style: Medieval Symphonie
Strings: 3 (1 melody, 1 drone, 1 trompette)
Keyboard: Fully chromatic
Material: maple body and keys, birch soundboard, nylon strings for better tone-retention in changing humidities and temperatures (ideal for reenactment events!)
Finish: Hand-oiled for a natural, historical look
Tuning: Customizable upon request
Whether you're exploring the roots of European folk music or adding a unique voice to your sonic palette, this hurdy gurdy is a rare blend of authenticity, craftsmanship, and playability.
Note: due to the time, materials, and space required to make instruments, these instruments are made to order.
Rediscover the music of early medieval Europe with this meticulously handcrafted Trossingen Lyre, inspired by the remarkable archaeological find from a 6th-century Alemannic noble’s grave in Trossingen, Germany.
This 6-string lyre is a faithful historical replica, designed for musicians, historians, and reenactors who seek authenticity in both look and sound. Whether used for performance, ritual, or educational display, it captures the spirit and resonance of the Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.
Built with traditional techniques and materials, the lyre’s hollowed body construction and arched arms produce a warm, ancient tone perfect for both solo melodies and poetic accompaniment. The design is based on archaeological reconstructions and museum-grade references, making it ideal for historically informed performance.
Features:
Design: Based on the 6th-century Trossingen burial lyre
Strings: 6 (nylon, optional setup available)
Material: Oak body, birch soundboard
Tuning: Customizable diatonic or modal scales
Finish: Oil and beeswax for an authentic, aged look
Features: included horn harp-nail (pick)
Whether you're invoking the ancient songs of the Skalds or composing your own early music, the Trossingen Lyre is a beautifully resonant piece of living history—crafted to be played, not just displayed.
Note: due to the time, materials, and space required to make instruments, these instruments are made to order.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!