James Delveaux double action Grecian pedal harp C 1830

All the parts are original with the original gilded grotesque decoration on the front.

This is awaiting workshop time to clean the mechanics and paintwork  and will be strung to concert pitch with Bow Brand low tension gut strings and silver wire wound on silk for the bass strings.

James Delveaux (or Delveau) was originally from Belgium and worked for Sebastian Erard from around 1812 assembling and finishing the harps to ensure that each instrument left the showroom in perfect condition.

Delveaux worked in both the Paris and London branches of Erard’s and was very highly thought of by Pierre Erard who suggested to his uncle, Sebastian, that this ‘very honest man’ could become the firm’s representative in Brussels, as well as in America, Brazil or Russia.

Perhaps travel was not for him as in 1821 Delveaux left Erard’s and went to work for the firm of Erat, Erard’s main rival in London.