Egan, who was awarded the Royal Warrant by George IV, is famed for inventing a new type of harp called the Royal Portable, which was smaller and easier to tune, but this privately consigned, double-action example was one of his large earlier instruments.
Standing 5ft 7in (1.7m) high, it had a gilded reeded column support and a replacement sound board decorated with harps and shamrock.
Its brass plate was inscribed no.2120 J.Egan, 30 Dawson Street, Dublin. All enough to bring a winning bid of £3200 from an amateur lady harpist.
Although the harp stole the limelight, the 1000-lot outing also included private collections of vintage prams and children’s tea and dinner services, both consigned by one vendor.
Three or four collectors dominated bidding for the 27-lot pram dispersal and, although a number were bought in, they all found buyers immediately after the sale.
The most expensive buggy was the Victorian 5ft 2in (1.57m) long, metal-sprung, carved-wood pram, right, with a folding hood and twin turned wood handles which fetched £480.
Best of the children’s crockery was an early 19th century English pearlware tea service in good condition and comprising a teapot, sugar bowl, five tea bowls, six saucers and a slop bowl which took a winning bid of £380.
The king's harp maker plucks at Norfolk bidders’ purse strings
LARGELY unknown outside the world of harpists, the name of the celebrated Dublin maker John Egan is guaranteed to tug at the heart and purse strings of aficionados when one of his harps makes a rare appearance for sale as this one, right, did at the February 25 collectors sale held by Aylsham auctioneers Keys (15% buyer’s premium).
