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A very fine gilt and brass mounted harp by Erard and retailed…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Hobart
Date:
23-Oct-2011
Lot No.
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Description:
A very fine gilt and brass mounted harp by Erard and retailed by T.J. Brown & Co., 12 Berners Street London, English circa 1820, with finely painted sound board and gilded decorations throughout, with eight pedals including a swell mechanism. Sebastian Erard, was born in Strasbourg on 5th April 1752 and his name was originally spelled Erhard. He moved to Paris in 1768, he worked for an unknown harpsichord maker. Erard wanted to explore the fundamentals of instrument making, it soon became apparent that Erard was a genius at finding ways around mechanical problems, which came to the attention the Abbe Roussier. His success as an instrument maker caused envy among his rivals who accused him of working outside the corporation without a licence. Louis XVI protected him and granted him a licence on his own authority. in 1777 Erard made his first square piano; it was probably a copy of an English Zumpe piano, there was a portrait of Erard shown at the international Inventions Exhibition of 1885. Once his reputation was established, Erard persuaded his brother-in-law to join him in Paris, their first pianos were squares with bichords throughout, a five-octave compass. Erard made a combination of piano and organ with two keyboards for Marie Antoinette, the revolution of 1789 destroyed his business in Paris and in 1792 he opened a factory in great Marlborough Street, London. Seemingly he left hi
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Entertainment Equipment: Musical Instruments & Accessories