The Clock Work Shop

Description

This enchanting instrument of exhibition quality has a satin birch and giltwood frame of typical form but finished to a much higher standard than usual with a particularly attractive hexagonal column decorated with classical figures to the crown and Gothic arches to the base, together with a foliate stem. The soundboard has intricate inlaid stringing, paw feet and lift pedals, being signed to the neck-

‘PATENT HARP INVENTED BY J.A STUMPFF, LONDON. No. 44 Great Portland St. Portland Place,’ and ‘Musical instrument maker TO HER MAJESTY AND THE ROYAL FAMILY’

Johann Andreas Stumpff was a highly regarded German born harpmaker who settled in London in 1790. He was a maker to the British crown and was made a member of the Royal Institute of Great Britain, the only German member at that time. Stumpff was a great friend of Beethoven’s and a collector of autographed manuscripts by Mozart.