Harp from Cousineau Ebonized and gilded wood, maple veneer, wrought iron, fire-gilt bronze, brass, ivory fillet, wire. Engraved at the top "COUSINEAU PERE ET FILS À PARIS", embossed and gilded number "E 277". H 176.3, D 81 cm. Paris, Georges (1733 - 1800) and Jacques-Georges (1760 - 1836) Cousineau, 1775 - 1800. Sound and beauty The young Marie-Antoinette, who came to Paris in 1770 as the bride of the heir to the French throne, triggered a veritable fashion for the instrument as an enthusiastic harpist. The most sought-after harp makers of this era were Sébastien Erard, Georges Cousineau and Jean-Henri Naderman. All three worked closely with Jean Baptiste Krumpholtz, perhaps the greatest harpist of his time. Marie Antoinette's own harp was also made by Jean-Henri Naderman and is on display in Versailles, where it can be viewed. The harp presented here is signed by Cousineau Père et fils. The company was founded by Georges Cousineau in 1766. His son Jacques-Georges Cousineau became a partner in 1775. Like this example, their harps were usually equipped with seven pedals. These pedals operated a series of béquilles or double levers via a crutch mechanism, which allowed each string to be raised a semitone more precisely than was previously possible. Jacques-Georges continued to make instruments after his father's death, but traded under his own name as "Luthier et Maître de Harpe de l'impératrice Joséphine". He also performed as a harpist and wrote compositions. Harps by Cousineau can be found in the following museum collections, among others: Victoria and Albert Museum London, acc. no. 8531-1863. The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, acc. no. 52.105, Gift of Mrs. Simon Guggenheim, 1952. Expert opinion Marketing authorization for the EU internal market available (DE-K-230201-14). This object was produced using materials for which a CITES permit is required for export to countries outside the EU. We would like to point out that a permit is not usually issued.