In the meantime, one can be heard being played here;

Pedal harps were the height of fashion in Georgian times and were the instrument of choice in “Polite Society” for young Ladies.

Edward Light was a harp teacher and spotted a gap in the market for an instrument that had the same characteristics as a full size instrument but with its neo Classical decoration with acanthus leaves, nymphs and Greek patterns it also looked good in the drawing room. More importantly, it hit a price point that more people could afford!

Its basically the top 3 octaves of a folk harp with the dital mechanism providing the semitone settings.

Light developed several versions of the instrument; guitar harp – lute harp- lyre harp This particular instrument is the culmination of all his designs and is called a Dital harp as it has a series of buttons that work the same as the levers on a normal harp. Around 300 of this version based on Lights 1816 patent were made and this is number 8.

The decoration is rather unusual as around the body are bees, honeysuckle and a hive and the capital is topped off with an Imperial Eagle.

The first dozen or so instruments have the Imperial Eagle headstock but all subsequent instruments have the traditional Greek capital instead of the Eagle.

Napoleon chose the bee and Eagle as the emblem to represent his status as Emperor but the decoration seems out of place in a young English lady’s drawing room?

I’m keen to hear others thoughts on this subject.