Harp
ca. 1820 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In about 1819, John Egan invented the 'Royal Portable' harp, which was made up of a hollow column at the front and a rounded resonator at the back, to project the sound. Instead of using pedals, Egan introduced hand-operated levers so as to produce sharps and flats, but he claimed that this instrument was suitable for all types of harp music. This light and portable version of the harp was comparatively easy to play, and enjoyed great popularity during the 1820s.
John Egan was active in Dublin between about 1804 and 1841 and advertised himself in 1822 as 'Portable Harp maker to the King'. During the early 1800s, harp playing enjoyed a revival in Ireland, and harp societies were established in Belfast in 1809 and in Dublin in 1810.
John Egan was active in Dublin between about 1804 and 1841 and advertised himself in 1822 as 'Portable Harp maker to the King'. During the early 1800s, harp playing enjoyed a revival in Ireland, and harp societies were established in Belfast in 1809 and in Dublin in 1810.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Materials and techniques | Japanned wood, with painted gold decoration |
| Brief description | Irish, John Egan, 1820-25 of harp |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | J.Egan Inventor/ 31 Dawson St/ Dublin (1) Decoration 2) Signature; English; On the brass strip on the neck bearing the mechanism.; engraving) |
| Gallery label | PORTABLE HARP
By John Egan, about 1820
Japanned with gold paint.
Inscribed J.Egan Inventor/ 31 Dawson St./ Dublin.
Non-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 16/15
John Egan, active from about 1804 until 1841, was a fashionable maker of Irish harps, and advertised himself as "Portable Harp maker to the King" (George IV) . He claimed that all pedal-harp music could be played on this instrument despite its size and limited ability to produce semi-tones.
332-1882(pre September 2000) |
| Object history | This formed part of the collection of Carl Engel (1919 - 1882), a leading musicologist who published the Descriptive Catalogue of the Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum (London, 1874). Engel's collection was bought by the museum in 1882, nos. 150 to 350, for £555. 6s. 0d. RP 2315/1882 Bought for £5 |
| Summary | In about 1819, John Egan invented the 'Royal Portable' harp, which was made up of a hollow column at the front and a rounded resonator at the back, to project the sound. Instead of using pedals, Egan introduced hand-operated levers so as to produce sharps and flats, but he claimed that this instrument was suitable for all types of harp music. This light and portable version of the harp was comparatively easy to play, and enjoyed great popularity during the 1820s. John Egan was active in Dublin between about 1804 and 1841 and advertised himself in 1822 as 'Portable Harp maker to the King'. During the early 1800s, harp playing enjoyed a revival in Ireland, and harp societies were established in Belfast in 1809 and in Dublin in 1810. |
| Bibliographic reference | London, Victoria & Albert Museum: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria & Albert Museum. Part II, Anthony Baines: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 82 - 83. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 332-1882 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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