A Cousineau harp
A Cousineau harp
Gilt and ebonised wood, maple veneer; wrought iron, ormolu and brass mountings; ivory filet inlays, wire. Engraved above "COUSINEAU PERE ET FILS À PARIS", impressed and gilt no. "E 277". H 176.3, D 81 cm.
Paris, Georges (1733 - 1800) and Jacques-Georges (1760 - 1836) Cousineau, 1775 - 1800.
Sound and Beauty
The young Marie-Antoinette, who came to Paris in 1770 as the bride of the heir to the French throne, was an enthusiastic harp player and sparked a veritable fashion for the instrument. The most sought-after harp makers of this era were Sébastien Erard, Georges Cousineau and Jean-Henri Naderman. All three worked closely with Jean Baptiste Krumpholtz, perhaps the greatest harpist of his time. Marie Antoinette's own harp was also by Jean-Henri Naderman and is on display in Versailles, where it can be viewed.
The harp presented here is signed by Cousineau Père et fils. The company was founded by Georges Cousineau in 1766. In 1775, his son Jacques-Georges Cousineau joined as a partner. Their harps were usually equipped with seven pedals, like this example. These pedals could be used to operate a series of béquilles or double levers (crutch action), which allowed each string to be raised a semitone more accurately than was previously possible. Jacques-Georges continued to build instruments after his father's death, but traded under his own name as "Luthier et Maître de Harpe de l'impératrice Joséphine". He also performed as a harpist and wrote compositions.
Harps by Cousineau can be found in the following museums, among others:
Victoria and Albert Museum London, acc. no. 8531-1863.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, acc. no. 52.105, Gift of Mrs. Simon Guggenheim, 1952.
Certificate
Sales permit for the EU internal has been obtained (DE-K-230201-14).
Bid on this lot
A Cousineau harp
Gilt and ebonised wood, maple veneer; wrought iron, ormolu and brass mountings; ivory filet inlays, wire. Engraved above "COUSINEAU PERE ET FILS À PARIS", impressed and gilt no. "E 277". H 176.3, D 81 cm.
Paris, Georges (1733 - 1800) and Jacques-Georges (1760 - 1836) Cousineau, 1775 - 1800.
Sound and Beauty
The young Marie-Antoinette, who came to Paris in 1770 as the bride of the heir to the French throne, was an enthusiastic harp player and sparked a veritable fashion for the instrument. The most sought-after harp makers of this era were Sébastien Erard, Georges Cousineau and Jean-Henri Naderman. All three worked closely with Jean Baptiste Krumpholtz, perhaps the greatest harpist of his time. Marie Antoinette's own harp was also by Jean-Henri Naderman and is on display in Versailles, where it can be viewed.
The harp presented here is signed by Cousineau Père et fils. The company was founded by Georges Cousineau in 1766. In 1775, his son Jacques-Georges Cousineau joined as a partner. Their harps were usually equipped with seven pedals, like this example. These pedals could be used to operate a series of béquilles or double levers (crutch action), which allowed each string to be raised a semitone more accurately than was previously possible. Jacques-Georges continued to build instruments after his father's death, but traded under his own name as "Luthier et Maître de Harpe de l'impératrice Joséphine". He also performed as a harpist and wrote compositions.
Harps by Cousineau can be found in the following museums, among others:
Victoria and Albert Museum London, acc. no. 8531-1863.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, acc. no. 52.105, Gift of Mrs. Simon Guggenheim, 1952.
Certificate
Sales permit for the EU internal has been obtained (DE-K-230201-14).
