Bagpipes in Medieval Manuscripts


These images come from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek who are nice enough to provide these images to the public. I can safely say that all the images below are pre-1500 (one is even pre-1400) and come from Books of Hours, the "best sellers" of the medieval period. Every example of a bagpiper happens to be from the "Annunciation of the Shepherds" portion of these books of hours. I wouldn't necessarily base a replica instrument on any of these but to see them in a group all together can either show generalities in the instruments of the time or provide evidence for severe medieval plagiarism!

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KB, KA 20 c.1325-1335


KB, 76 G3 c.1390-1400


KB, 135 E36 c.1400-1450


KB, 135 J50 c.1430-1450


KB, 74 F1 c.1450


KB, 76 F27 c.1450-1475


KB, 76 F7 c.1460


KB, 133 D16 c.1480-1490


KB, 131 H18 c.1485-1500


KB, 76 F14 c.1490-1500

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