TIN INLAYS ON HISTORIC BOHAS

Warning: the word tin; used in this document covers both lead and tin itself because it is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. As these instruments are museum pieces, this analysis remains difficult to carry out because taking samples could damage them.

There are many pewter inlays on ancient bohas. Before detailing them it is advisable to specify what could be the use of the tin in the design of bohas.

I - WHY USE TIN IN THE DESIGN OF HISTORIC BOHAS

Examination of ancient instruments shows four uses of this material:

- simple reed manufacturing element,

- material used to repair damage or anomalies,

- protection of fragile and exposed parts of the instrument,

- decoration element.

1) Reeds manufacturing

The study of historical bohas revealed the existence of four reeds whose bodies are made of pewter. It replaces the reed body and supports an added lamella, itself reed.

BdG-2011-1 "Benquet"

BdG-2015-1 "Blanchard-1"

2) Repairs of damage or anomalies

Here are some examples of repairs:

First example: the upper playing hole on the melody pipe was reformed using a tin ring.

BdG-2013-2 "Saint-Martin de Chalosse"

Second example: the joint between the pihet and its male part which allows the connection to the pocket is circled in tin in order to strengthen it.

BdG-2013-4 "Cabanac-Catdric"

Third example: same repair as on the previous boha but more important because part of the wood has also been replaced.

BdG-2015-1 "Blanchard-1"

3)Protections of the most exposed parts.

Pewter is very frequently used to consolidate the most exposed parts of the instrument. For example the ends. On the images below, appear impact marks on the tin. This avoided or limited damage to the wood as the tin being softer it acts as a bumper.

BdG-2012-2 "Padera"

BdG-2013-3 "Mougneres"

BdG-2013-7 "Claouriot"

4) Decorations of the elements of the boha

It is the most notable use of tin in the design of the boha and many bagpipes.

ean-Luc Matte made an inventory of the different geometric figures represented on the bagpipes - "(cf. http://musette.free.fr/etains/etains.html )"
In 2013, Frédéric Vigouroux added the boha to this inventory. Also to remain homogeneous, this presentation will be based, as far as possible, on the same terminology.

II - APPLICATION TO HISTORICAL BOHAS

The decorations are present on most of the wooden parts. They will be presented below by following the organology of the instrument.

1)Tin encrustation on the stumps

There are two types of stumps on the boha, that of the blowpipe and that of the pihet.

The stumps of the blowpipe

BdG-2011-1 "Benquet"	BdG-2011-2 "Capdeville"	BdG-2012-1 "Mondineu 1"	BdG-2013-2 "St Martin de chalosse"	BdG-2013-3 "Mougnères"	BdG-2013-5 "Lestage"
Protective block with a row of diamonds. Upper belt with saw teeth towards the outside	Double belt connected by a single line Lower belt decorated with sawtooth inward	Protective block with a row of rectangles with triangular teeth, two on the long side and one on the running side. Upper belt with saw teeth outwards.	Protective block with five rows of diamonds Upper belt with sawtooth outwards	Protective block with five rows of rectangles	Protective block with a row of rectangles

BdG-2013-7 "Claouriot"	BdG-2014-1 "ATP"	BdG-2014-2 "Bellegarde"	BdG-2015-1 "Blanchard-1"	BdG-2015-4 "Dupin"
Protective block with three rows of rectangles with a triangular tooth at their base. Upper belt with saw teeth outwards	Protective block with a row of diamonds embedded between two rows of triangles with a triangular tooth at their base. Upper belt with sawtooth outwards	Protective block with seven rows of squares	Protective block with two rows of triangles with a triangular tooth at their base. Upper belt with saw teeth towards the outside	Protective block with a row of alternately inverted trapezoids. Upper belt with saw teeth outwards

The stumps of the chanter (pihets)

BdG-2011-2 "Capdeville"	BdG-2012-1 "Mondineu 1"	BdG-2013-2 "St Martin"	BdG-2013-3 "Mougnères"	BdG-2013-5 "Lestage"	BdG-2013-7 "Claouriot 1"
Protective block with a row of geometric figures based on the rectangle and provided at one end with a semi-circle towards the inside and on the other with a triangular point outwards.	Protective block with a row of triangles with a triangular tooth at their base. Upper belt with saw teeth outwards	Protective block with a row of diamonds embedded between two rows of triangles with a triangular tooth at their base. Upper belt with sawtooth outwards	Protective block with a row of diamonds embedded between two rows of triangles Upper belt with sawtooth outwards	Protective block with a row of diamonds with a triangular tooth at their base and set between two rows of triangles with a tooth triangular at their base. Upper belt with jagged teeth outwards.	Protective block with a row of squares. Upper belt with serrated outward teeth.

BdG-2013-7 "Claouriot-2"	BdG-2013-8 "Dardey "	BdG-2014-1 "ATP"	BdG-2014-2 "Bellegarde"	BdG-2015-1 "Blanchard-1"	BdG-2015-4 "Dupin"
Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles. Upper belt adorned with serrated edges on the outside	Unique belt adorned with outward serrated teeth	Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles Internal border of the rectangles and upper belt adorned with inclined saw teeth	Openwork protective block with a row of rectangles followed by a row of diamonds framed by two rows of rectangles Sawtooth upper belt Highest single line belt	Protective block with a row of diamonds embedded between two rows of triangles. Upper belt with sawtooth towards the outside	Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles with sawtooths towards the inside for some and a cross for others A belt of inclined polygons Upper belt adorned with sawtooth Highest single line belt

2) Pewter inlays on the windshield

Some examples of bohas have decorations on their windshields but none in pewter. There is only one windshield with tin, but it is a consolidation from its end by which the musician inflates the bag. Use rather not recommended when we know the toxicity of tin.

BdG-2015-4 "Dupin"

3) Pewter inlays on the brunideir extension

Sur les six rallonges des brunidéirs retrouvées, cinq disposent de décors en étain.

BdG-2011-1 "Benquet"	BdG-2013-2 "St-Martin de Chalosse"	BdG-2013-3 "Mondineu-3"	BdG-2014-1 "ATP"	BdG-2015-1 "Blanchard1"
Protective block in the form of a wide belt adorned with sawtooths outwards	Protective block perforated by two rows of diamonds set between two rows of triangles. Lower waistband adorned with serrated edges towards the outside	Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles. Lower belt decorated with serrated edges towards the outside	Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles. Lower waistband adorned with semi-circles on the outside	Protective block perforated by a row of triangles. Lower belt decorated with saw teeth scattered towards the outside

4) Pewter inlays on the chanter (pihet)

On this part there may be decorations at one or both ends. They combine the function of protection and decoration.

Out of 18 bohas studied, ten have decorations on only one end of the pihet and only two have them at both ends. Four of them can be qualified of consolidation and seven pihets have no decoration.

BdG-2012-2 "Padera"	BdG-2013-2 "St-Martin de Chalosse"	BdG-2013-3 "Mougneres"	BdG-2013-5 "Lestage"	BdG-2013-7 "Claouriot"
	réparation		Ceinture simple ornée de dents de scie côté inférieur
Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles. Upper belt adorned with serrated edges towards the outside	Simple belt adorned with sawtooth on each side	Protective block in the form of a wide belt adorned with sawtooths outwards	Simple belt adorned with sawtooth on each side	Single block of protection without decoration

BdG-2014-1 "ATP"	BdG-2014-2 "Bellegarde"	BdG-2015-3 "Dubes"	BdG-2015-4 "Dupin"	BdG-2015-5 "Baris"
Simple belt adorned with sawtooth on each side	Protective block perforated by a row of squares. Single upper belt	Simple protection block possible repair because it is superimposed on a rosette	Protective block perforated by a row of rectangles. Upper belt adorned with serrated edges on the outside	Single block of protection without decoration