Naughtan, John

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These words from the owner of this bagpipe”

“Early nineteenth-century bellows-blown Scottish smallpipes

A set of bellows-blown Scottish smallpipes made by John Naughtan of Aberdeen (stamped on common stock: “NAUGHTAN ABD”, twice). Bag, bellows and reeds are missing, otherwise the set is complete. The chanter, which appears to be original, is roughly the size of a Highland chamber pipe chanter. Very narrow bores in drones (c. 3 mm) and chanter (c. 4 mm.). Significantly more narrow than a modern practice chanter, and also more narrow than chanters for sets of chamber pipes made by J&R Glen (1860s) and David Glen (1870s or a bit later) in my collection. The set is probably made from some sort of fruitwood (possibly cherry) – quite lightweight compared to exotic hardwoods; fairly dark, but apparently not stained. Mounted in horn except for the common stock which has an elephant ivory ferrule.

It is entirely possible and indeed likely that Naughtan had been making pipes before 1824. It is mounted in horn rather than in ivory and no exotic hardwoods were used.

Provenance – Came from a house clearance in Basildon, donated to a charity and sold at auction. Used to belong to a gentleman from Scotland who was a piper, was donated together with other (modern) piping paraphernalia.”