A single action Empire pedal harp decorated in the Neo Classical style by Sebastian Erard from February 1811
Other than a few glue joints and small decorations needing attention, a good clean and new strings will have this instrument playing again. The decoration is all original along with the swell doors operating and once the top and bottom of the column has been regilded, it will look as though it has just come out of the maker’s workshop.
The original owner was a Miss Sedley of Portman Square. On 18th June 1813 as the next heir to the title, Henry Sedley became 3rd Lord Vernon after his half brothers death and at this point his and his children’s surname was changed from Sedley to Venables Vernon.
There were two sisters:
Louisa Henrietta Sedley 1788 – 1861, later Venables Vernon, married Reverend Brooke Boothby on 4th November 1816, at Sudbury, Derbyshire. Her husband was the son of Major Sir William Boothby, 7th Baronet and British military officer. Together, Louisa and Brooke Boothby had six children: five sons and one daughter. She remained in the Sudbury area and died there on 6th March 1861.
Catherine Sedley 1781 – 1867
Catherine Sedley later Venables Vernon never married. She remained in London and is shown on the 1851 and 1861 censuses living at Bolton Street, Piccadilly, which is where she died on 29th April 1867.
