Harp String Gauge 1829

This Harp String Gauge was made by Érard, sometime between 1780 and 1959. Érard was a renowned piano and harp manufacturer during a time when musical instruments were not just functional tools but also symbols of social status and cultural refinement. This gauge reflects the intersection of artistry and precision in instrument making. Think about who would have used this tool. The harp, often associated with nobility and femininity, required skilled craftspeople to maintain its delicate strings. The gauge embodies the gendered division of labor of the time, where men often dominated the technical aspects of instrument making, even as women were the primary performers. Consider this object as a silent witness to the sounds and social contexts of its time, a tool that helped shape the music and the identities of those who played it.