Erard
Double-Action Pedal Harp
Patent No. 5729 – Sold by Marcus Moses, Dublin
Identification
Summary
- Instrument: Double-action pedal harp
- Maker: Sebastian and Pierre Erard
- Patent: No. 5729 (granted 1829) Appears in the Erard ledgers on p.582, sold to Messrs M[c]. Cullagh, Dublin [pianoforte sellers at 108 Grafton Street], on 28 February 1846 – described as ‘No. 1., Blue ½ T.r. [turn?] Gothic.
https://www.google.com/search?q=McCullagh+pianofortes+dubline&oq=McCullagh+pianofortes+dubline&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyBwgDECEYnwUyBwgEECEYnwUyBwgFECEYjwIyBwgGECEYjwLSAQg4OTQyajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
- Workshop: 18 Great Marlborough Street, London
- Retailer: Messrs M[c]. Cullagh, Dublin [pianoforte sellers at 108 Grafton Street] then Marcus Moses, Dublin
- Estimated Date of Manufacture: Circa 1830–1850
- Style: Gothic revival with gilded carvings and green soundboard. Described as blue (probably Prussian blue – which is a fugitive pigment that fades to green over time).
- Provenance: Irish sale via Marcus Moses, a known Erard distributor active 1831–1867
Historical
Significance
Sebastian Erard revolutionized harp design with
his 1810 patent for the double-action pedal mechanism. Patent No. 5729 (this is the serial number – the
patent number is 6962, which was granted in 1835), granted in 1829 (Professor Robert Adelson found
that although non-patented until 1835, the first Erard Gothic harp was actually
made and sold in 1829), represents a refinement of this system, allowing
chromatic modulation across all keys. Pierre Erard continued this legacy,
producing ornate Gothic-style harps for elite clientele.
Marcus Moses [likely sold the harp second hand], a prominent
Dublin music dealer, imported Erard instruments and sold them from his shop on
Westmoreland Street. Harps bearing both the Erard patent and Moses’ stamp are
rare and carry dual provenance—London craftsmanship and Irish distribution.
Photographic
Documentation
1. Full Harp View
- Ornate gilded column with floral and scroll motifs
- Green-painted soundboard
- Visible wear consistent with age
- Classical setting with wood-paneled walls
2. Patent Plate (Piano Reference)
- Engraving: “Sebastian and Pierre Erard’s Patent No. 5729 / 18 Great Marlborough Street”
- Confirms London origin and patent lineage
3. Neck Inscription
- Gold lettering: “Sold by Marcus Moses, Dublin”
- Tuning pins arranged in curved formation
- Surface wear and patina consistent with 19th-century finish
4. Column Base Detail
- Hexagonal base with intricate gilded carvings
- Metal brackets for structural support
- Original decorative elements intact