A violin made in tribute to Sherlock Holmes and his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle went on display yesterday at the Edinburgh University Musical Instrument Museum.

The 'Sherlock' was made by Edinburgh-based luthier Steve Burnett from the wood of a sycamore tree that had once stood in the garden of Liberton Bank House, were Doyle lived while studying in the city. The instrument was inspired by the fictional detective's habit of playing the violin, albeit badly, while pondering his investigations. The violin's inscription reads: "Sherlock, 150th anniversary, birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, wood from sycamore at Dunedin School, former childhood home, Edinburgh, 22/05/2009."

Burnett now plans to make a full quartet of string instruments from the remainder of the tree. The project has gained support from many in Edinburgh, including the Lord Provost. When the quartet is complete, composers will be invited to compose works to be performed on the instruments.