the queen mary harp dates from 1500 and was presented to the harper beatrix gardyn of banchory in 1563 by mary, queen of scots, while on a hunting trip. it is also said to have been adorned at one time with a gold portrait of mary which is why the harp is associated with the queen of scots and was subsequently passed down into the robertson family of lude, in perthshire. lady gardyn's son had a servant in 1588 called anthony mcewan mcchlairser ("son of the harper"), which provides a clue as to who might have played this clarsach. the last harpist to play the instrument is noted as john robertson of lude (died c. 1729); his repertory was preserved in the family and published by john bowie in 1789. all three surviving gaelic harps are considered to have been made in argyll in south-west scotland at some time in the 14th or 15th centuries.