Lot 132
A GRECIAN GILT AND GRAIN-PAINTED PEDAL HARP BY SEBASTIEN ÉRARD
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
The Line of Beauty: A Collector’s Pursuit
Auction: 01 July 2026 from 10:00 BST
Description
double action with forty-three strings and eight pedals, the brass mounted neck engraved ‘Sebastian Érard, Patent 4543, 18 Marlborough Street London’ and on the reverse ‘Sebastian Erard/ Harp & Piano forte Maker in Ordinary to her Majesty and the ROYAL FAMILY’' the base with Neo-Grecque motifs, the fluted pillar with a caryatid capital, on paw feet
Dimensions
84cm wide, 171cm high, 48cm deep
Footnote
Sébastien Érard (1752–1831) was a renowned French instrument maker whose innovations transformed the development of both the piano and the harp. Best known for helping to establish the foundations of the modern piano, Érard attracted prestigious patrons, including Marie Antoinette, who commissioned a transposing piano to assist with her vocal training.
Working alongside his brother Jean-Baptiste, Érard formalised their partnership in 1788 under the name Érard Frères. That same year, the firm produced 254 fortepianos, reflecting the growing success of the business. Although headquartered in Paris, the political instability leading up to the French Revolution prompted the establishment of a second workshop and office at 18 Great Marlborough Street in London. Operations were based there until Sébastien returned to Paris in 1796, after which production continued in both cities, with Érard dividing his time between them.
Érard is particularly celebrated for his contributions to harp design. In 1794, he secured the first English patent for an improved single-action harp, at a time when most harps used in England were imported from France. His most significant achievement followed in 1810 with the patenting of the double-action harp mechanism. Incorporating seven pedals, this innovation enabled players to both sharpen and flatten strings, greatly expanding the instrument’s musical possibilities. The invention established the harp as a sophisticated and versatile instrument capable of supporting both solo and orchestral repertoire.