Pedal harp
1
Photo by Antonia Reeve © The University of Edinburgh
InstrumentChromatic harp |
Instrument FamilyStrings |
MakerSebastian Erard |
Place MadeEurope; England; London; United Kingdom |
Date Made1837 or later. |
DescriptionConcert pedal harp. 8 pedals. Body of sycamore. Painted soundboard which hides the grain of the wood. Compass E♭₁ - E♯₇, six octaves, 43 strings. Double action. The tuning-pins tune from the right-hand side (looking from the player's position). Iron square headed tuning-pins. Overall length of the tuning-pins can be altered by adjusting brass plates which hold the string bearing nuts. Pedal for opening slots in the back of the instrument by a mechanism comparable to that of a nag's head swell; slots range in size from 179mm × 73mm to 151mm × 30mm. Double hitched pedals. The back is in the shape of a smooth curve. Brass plates on the head through which the tuning mechanism works. E₁ - E₂ strings overspun. Serial number: 4568. Overall size: 1700. Body length: 817. Body width: 365 (bottom) - 93 (top). Body depth:c 150 (bottom) - 67 (top). String length: string lengths, given for open strings using a C♭ scale, E♭₁ 1470; F♭₁ 1443; C♭₂ 1310; F♭₂ 1218; C♭₃ 1007; F♭₃ 818; C♭₄ 576; F♭₄ 456; C♭₅ 335; F♭₅ 265; C♭₆ 195; F♭₆ 152; C♭₇ 102; E♭₇ 82. Inscribed "Sebastian Erard / Harp & Pianoforte Maker in Ordinary / to her Majesty and the / ROYAL FAMILY" on the tuning side of the head, and "Sebastian Erard's / Patent N 4568 / 18, Great Marborough Street LONDON" with the Royal coat of arms on the other side. Decoration: Fluted pillar, gilded in the flutes. Gilded finial at the top of the pillar featuring Caryatids (architectural supports of sculpted female figure or `Grecian' ladies) in classical costume with small classical features of angels holding lyres. Gilded at the bottom of the pillar with acanthus leaves and a gilded base. The front feet support of winged sphinxes, back feet imitation lion paws. Painted soundboard in a light green colour obscuring the grain. Gilded border lines at the edge of the soundboard and back. The soundboard has a pronounced raised section in the tenor due to the tension of the strings. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p.50. |
NotesD.P. Martin, 1996-1997. |
Measurements1700. |
CollectionReid Collection; MIMEd |
Accession Number0176 |