Pedal Harp
ca. 1785 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jean-Henri Naderman (also spelt 'Nadermann') was born in Fribourg , Switzerland, in 1735 and died in Paris in 1799. In 1778 he was appointed facteur de l' harpe ordinaire or harpmaker in ordinary, to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France (1755 - 1793). The queen played the harp and helped make it hightly fashionable in the salons in Paris, which would help explain why there were as many as fifty-eight teachers of the harp in Paris by 1784. In such surroundings, lavishly decorated examples like this one would have been highly appropriate and desirable. This instrument is fitted with crochettes, right-angled hooks, which were operated by foot-pedals and raised the pitch of each string by one semi-tone, a popular device during this period.
On loan to the Horniman Museum.
On loan to the Horniman Museum.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Materials and techniques | Carved giltwood and painted pine, with metal mechanisms |
| Brief description | French, 1776, 9, by H.Nadermann. Tuning pin cover (formerely known as fragment of a pedal harp name board), French, 1785-89, giltwood, by H. Nadermann. Formerly FWK.LOST.424:1 |
| Physical description | Back of seven ribs painted black, with a border of simulated gold beads. Pine belly painted with swags of flowers, musical trophies and a shepherdess in a landscape in the Boucher style. Garlanded pillar richly carved and gilt, with a winged mermaid at the top, whose formed tail is plaited down the front of the pillar. At the base, two triton-babies blowing horns: they have gilt tails, but their bodies and faces are a natural skin colour. The neck is also richly carved with floral scrolls and gilt. The plate covering theb ling rods of the mechanishm is missing. Single action by crochettes. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'JH.Nadermann / à Paris' (Anthony Baines, in Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoira and Albert Museum (London, V & A Publications, 1998), pp. 79 - 80, refers to H.Nadermann, but the initial on his printed label found on the inside of a harp (Museum No. 425-1884) is a mongram made up of a dotted J and an H. The spelling ranges from 'Naderman' to 'Nadermann'.)
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Object history | This instrument was bought by the South Kensington Museum for £4 - 10 - 0 (£4.50). Its previous provenance remains unknown. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Jean-Henri Naderman (also spelt 'Nadermann') was born in Fribourg , Switzerland, in 1735 and died in Paris in 1799. In 1778 he was appointed facteur de l' harpe ordinaire or harpmaker in ordinary, to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France (1755 - 1793). The queen played the harp and helped make it hightly fashionable in the salons in Paris, which would help explain why there were as many as fifty-eight teachers of the harp in Paris by 1784. In such surroundings, lavishly decorated examples like this one would have been highly appropriate and desirable. This instrument is fitted with crochettes, right-angled hooks, which were operated by foot-pedals and raised the pitch of each string by one semi-tone, a popular device during this period. On loan to the Horniman Museum. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4449&A-1858 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
