Glasgow Auction is Piping Hot

The skirl of the pipes rang out at McTear’s Auctioneers today as the first ever dedicated bagpipe auction took place in Glasgow.

Coinciding with the World Pipe Band Championships and the Piping Live Festival, the auction featured over 100 lots including full sets of bagpipes, pipe chanters, practice chanters, small and belllows pipes, all made in Scotland, and European pipes, history books, music and a host of associated items.

Highlights of the sale included a set of Highland Bagpipes in African blackwood which sold for £320, and a chanter by Henderson which fetched £220. 

Other lots included Highland bagpipes thought to be by Robertson and Lawrie which tipped the £300 mark and a set of chamber pipes likely by Glen’s on which the hammer fell at £220. 

The collection had been amassed over a number of years by an anonymous piping enthusiast and supporter of Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland (EFI).  Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the EFI.

Commenting on the auction Neil Palmer from EFI, said: “This was a great chance for pipers and their friends from around the world to acquire great instruments and other interesting items.  We’re delighted to be involved.”

The auction included sets of pipes and chanters from some of the world’s best-known makers including Sinclair, Henderson, MacLeod, Grainger and Campbell, Lawrie, Kilberry, Warmac, Warnock and more.  Bagpipe maker and Piper, Dave Wardell, from KIlberry Bagpipes in Edinburgh, was at the sale to advise on the sale items.

Brian Clements from McTear’s said: “When we were approached about the collection, we knew this was the perfect opportunity to hold the first ever dedicated bagpipe auction.  You can see from the condition of the lots that the collection has been put together by a true enthusiast, with the items covering every aspect of piping.   

“There were some fabulous individual sets of pipes in the auction and we are delighted to have been able to raise such a good sum for Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland.”

Click to view full auction results >>