Ancient Mesopotamian history has always hugely fascinated Omokoroa artisan John Knotts.

The 75-year-old 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, says John.

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,” John explains. '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.

During its construction John was in constant contact with the British Museum, which had built its own replica after the original Bull's Lyre, which was being housed at the Baghdad Museum, was severely damaged during the second Iraq War in 2003.

'The museum sent me high resolution photographs of the lyre, tips for what they'd done, and at each stage they'd send emails encouraging me to keep going and that I was doing well.

'Mine's a bit bigger than theirs, but theirs is valued at $1.2million because the bull's head is made out of gold, while mine's insured at $35,000.”

In a fortnight – and for the very first time – John will hear his lyre being played by world-renowned harpist Natalia Mann at concert presented by The Incubator and Baycourt on April 2.

Natalia will be joined by Iraqi artist Sundus Abdul Hadi and taonga puoro specialist Jo'el Komene.

'I can't wait to hear it be played properly. During the build my father in-law and I put some fishing line on the lyre and he strummed it to get an idea about the tone.

'It could have sounded flat, I wouldn't have known. But my God, hearing the sound it was just incredible. Absolutely Incredible,” says John.