The creator of the Lyre of Tauranga, John Knotts, has passed away.

News of the 75-year-old's death was released on The Incubator's Facebook page yesterday afternoon.

John Knotts passed away earlier this week.

'We are sad to let you all know that John Knotts passed away,” the post reads.

'A brave and clever man, at rest now and we are happy to say that his legacy – The Lyre of Tauranga – will live on with more performances and festivals.

'We will be making you proud of your dream John. Rest in peace.”

Ancient Mesopotamian history has always hugely fascinated the Omokoroa artisan.

He fell in love with the ancient culture back at school. It was the cradle of civilisation, the birthplace of language, math and the 60-minute hour and 24-hour day, John told SunLive earlier this year.

In 2013, John's love of the past inspired him to embark a massive labour of love that would take some 1500 hours to complete – the Lyre of Tauranga.

It's the first instrument he's ever built and a recreation of the Bull's Lyre of Ur, a 4500-year-old ancient treasure discovered in 1929 and one of the first known stringed instrument in the world.

'I mocked up three different versions before creating the final piece, which was a very difficult build,” said John.

'There were moments I came close to giving up, especially with the decorations. It was maddening, a bloody nightmare. But I couldn't give up.”

The frame of John's lyre is constructed from rimu, the bull's head is gold-leafed, the decorations are paua, pounamu (greenstone), obsidian and oyster shell, while it's nine strings have been made out of sheep gut.

John heard his lyre played by world-renowned harpist Natalia Mann at concert presented by The Incubator and Baycourt on April 2.

A funeral for John will be held on Wednesday, May 11.