{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O58932"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58932/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU4783/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU4783/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU4783","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EU3693","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EU3694","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EU3695","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EU3696","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW7635","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW7636","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW7637","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW7638","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV8346","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O58932/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O58932","accessionNumber":"332-1882","objectType":"Harp","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In about 1819, John Egan invented the 'Royal Portable' harp, which was made up of a hollow column at the front and a rounded resonator at the back, to project the sound. Instead of using pedals, Egan introduced hand-operated levers so as to produce sharps and flats, but he claimed that this instrument was suitable for all types of harp music. This light and portable version of the harp was comparatively easy to play, and enjoyed great popularity during the 1820s.\r\n\r\nJohn Egan was active in Dublin between about 1804 and 1841 and advertised himself in 1822 as 'Portable Harp maker to the King'. During the early 1800s, harp playing enjoyed a revival in Ireland, and harp societies were established in Belfast in 1809 and in Dublin in 1810.","physicalDescription":"Description transcribed from department file: Harp. Round back with six slot-shaped soundholes. This and the belly japanned black and trimmed with floral decoration painted in gold. The curved post is fixed to a square base for standing, which is not original. The neck is offset to the right and tuned on the right. Single action mechanism by fourchettes actuated by seven hand levers (their buttons now missing) located along the inner side of the post. Thirty-four gut strings.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Egan, John","id":"A11798"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold paint","id":"x30249"},{"text":"varnish","id":"AAT14974"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"japanning","id":"AAT53797"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Japanned wood, with painted gold decoration","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AU4783","2011EU3693","2011EU3694","2011EU3695","2011EU3696","2017JW7635","2017JW7636","2017JW7637","2017JW7638","2017JV8346"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES299188"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES340977"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Harp","id":""}],[{"text":"component","id":""}],[{"text":"harp","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Dublin","id":"x28811"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1820","earliest":"1815-01-01","latest":"1824-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"90","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"without base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"J.Egan Inventor/ 31 Dawson St/ Dublin","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"","method":"engraving","position":"On the brass strip on the neck bearing the mechanism.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"1) Decoration 2) Signature","note":"1) Decoration 2) Signature; English; On the brass strip on the neck bearing the mechanism.; engraving"}],"objectHistory":"This formed part of the collection of Carl Engel (1919 - 1882), a leading  musicologist who published the <i>Descriptive Catalogue of the Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum</i>  (London, 1874). Engel's collection was bought by the museum in 1882, nos. 150 to 350, for £555. 6<i>s</i>. 0<i>d</i>.\r\nRP 2315/1882\r\nBought for £5","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Harp, Irish, John Egan, 1820-1825","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"London, Victoria & Albert Museum: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria & Albert Museum. Part II, Anthony Baines: <i>Non-keyboard instruments</i> (London, 1998), pp. 82 - 83."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"PORTABLE HARP \r\nBy John Egan, about 1820\r\nJapanned with gold paint. \r\nInscribed J.Egan Inventor/ 31 Dawson St./ Dublin. \r\n \r\nNon-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 16/15 \r\n \r\nJohn Egan, active from about 1804  until 1841, was a fashionable maker of Irish harps, and advertised himself as \"Portable Harp maker to the King\" (George IV) . He claimed that all pedal-harp music could be played on this instrument despite its size and limited ability to produce semi-tones.\r\n\r\n332-1882","date":{"text":"pre September 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-08-31"}}],"partNumbers":["332:1-1882","332:2-1882"],"accessionNumberNum":"332","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1882,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Harp","component"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-11","recordCreationDate":"2001-05-16","availableToBook":true}}