Double-action pedal harp
Maker
John Charles Schwieso
Date1826-1847 ca.
Place MadeLondon, England, Europe
Modelnone
Serial No.558
SignedEngraved on brass plate on player's right hand string arm: J. C. Schwieso's (script) / Patent (old-english script) / 79. Wimpole Street Cavendish Sqre. (script) / LONDON. / No. 558Markingsnone
DescriptionAccording to "London Street Views," an annotated blog about John Tallis' publication, dating 1838-1847, Schwieso was born in 1786 and came from Hanover to England in 1808 to make his living as harp and pianoforte maker. He entered into various partnerships, among them with Grosjean and Serquet and worked from various addresses: 11 Soho Square (with Grosjean), 263 Regent Street (with Serquet), 79 Wigmore Street, 19 Marlborough Street and 74 George Street. He is found at that last address by the 1841 census. He died in 1847, apparently in the St. Pancras workhouse.
According to "The History of Erard Piano and Harp in the Letter and Documents 1785-1959," R. Adelson, et al, Schwieso is first mentioned in correspondence between Pierre and Sebastian Erard, London to Paris, respectively, in 1815. He is noted to be an untrustworthy Erard employee and is an intermittent character in letters exchanged until 1824, particularly in reference to innovations to harp mechanisms and patent disputes.
Double-action pedal harp
44 strings [EE-f4]
Originally 8 pedals (pedal for shutters now missing)
Brass fourchette action
Plinth, feet [lion paw shape] and capital and foot of forepillar are wooden, covered with gesso mouldings, possibly some wooden carving, all painted gold
Grecian-style ornamentation includes winged caryatids around capital of forepillar, beneath winged mermen holding lyres and trumpets
Foot of forepillar has acanthus-leaf design
Plinth has a winged figure on each side of forepillar, one holding a lyre, other holding a trumpet (damaged)
String arm, sound box, and fluted forepillar all of wood stained dark brown
Sound board painted cream/ plae yellow, with double lines of gold paint as ornamentation. Central string-bearer painted gold (probably retouched). eyelets not visible, some pins missing; 14 remian and are dark wood with mother-of-pearl dot.
Back of soundbox has 5 rectangular spaces edged with gold-painted mouldings. Shutters missing (as is 8th pedal). Remaining 7 pedals are hinged, made of brass.
Plate on player's left hand side bears brass fourchette action. Tuning pins are set through exposed wooden section of string arm.
DimensionsOverall height: 1710 mm
Depth: 800 mm (from front of pillar to back of knee-block)
Maximum width: 390 mm (across base of plinth, excluding feet)
Longest string: 1467 mm (opening sounding length)
Shortest string: 8.2 cm
Credit LineArne B. Larson Estate
Object number05904
On View
Not on view
