The "nay" or "ney" is a type of flute, used in Iran, Turkey and Arab countries, and it was even played in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In theory it has a range of three octaves and up to twelve finger-holes. Sound is created by blowing through a small aperture of the lips against the edge of the mouthpiece. The Turkish version features prominently in the music that accompanies the dances of the Mevlevi or whirling dervishes. This example was bought by the Museum soon after it had been exhibited at the Paris Exhibition (Exposition Universelle) of 1867.

The following description is taken from Carl Engel: “A Descriptive Catalogue of the Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum,” (London, 1874), p. 212:

The nay is founded by blowing through a very small aperture of the lips against the edge of the oriface of the tube, and directing the wind chiefly wihtin the tube. There is no artificial contrivance in the tube to assist the player, and much practice is required to produce a proper tone. From the way in which some of the flute players represented on the ancient Egyptian monuments hold their instruments, with the upper end of the tube placed against the lips, it would appear that the embouchure of the performer on the nay is of very high quality. The American Indians in Guiana and Northern Brazil have a similar method of sounding their rude bone flutes. They, however, narrow the upper end of the tube by partly closing it with a resinous substance. Furthermore, there are nose-flutes played in this way with the nose instead of the mouth, a manner of performance especially relished by the Polynesian islanders.