Rare antique Harp Made by Cousineau Père et Fils Luthiers Circa 1782

A rare painted and gilded harp. The sound board retains some of its original paintings of Chinoiserie depicting different scenes. The black ground of the main frame is enriched with finely carved giltwood details.
Painted Cousineau Pere et Fils Luthiers in ribbons on soundboard.



Pedal harps such as this became a fashionable addition to European court life in the latter part of the eighteenth century. These instruments were particularly popular in Paris, where luthiers (stringed-instrument makers) such as Cousineau were soon being commissioned to make them. Surviving examples from this period are usually exquisite works of art and were sumptuously adorned with the ornaments of the age.





Georges Cousineau (1733-1799) was one of the most important pedal harp makers in Paris. He was joined by his son Jacques Georges (1760-1824) in 1775 and together they perfected an improved mechanism using a system of bequilles (crutch-ended levers) on either side of each string for raising and lowering the pitch. This system of bequilles revolutionized harp construction, replacing the old 'crochet' mechanism which, while achieving the same transposition, moved the strings out of alignment, thus dulling the tone and sometimes producing a rough buzzing sound. Cousineau's mechanisms solved this problem and they were so fine that he generally left them openly visible, behind a glass panel along the right side of the neck for all to see.









Marie Antoinette, who was perhaps the greatest devotee of the pedal harp and responsible for its place at the centre of court life, commissioned an instrument from Cousineau de Paris in 1780 which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. She chose to make Cousineau 'Luthier de la Reine' and this label is visible on the upper end of the soundboard on this harp. Another notable Cousineau pedal harp was made for the Empress Josephine in 1807 and may be seen at the former royal residence of Malmaison, outside Paris.
Post your ideas and talk about this item in our Forums - Click Here.