19th century American double action pedal harp made by J. F. Browne & Company, New York, 709 Broadway (engraved on brass peg plate). Grand N Model No. 3088 47 String, 7 Pedal Harp, comprised of bird's eye tiger maple and bronze and gilt wood highlights throughout. Gothic motif decoration including raised figures to the capital, shaped column, applied gilt gothic decoration to the lower column all above scrolled foliate, gilt carved and painted base and feet. 68" x 38" x 15". Circa 1860. Provenance: The Estate of Jane Dudley, Nashville, TN and Palm Beach, FL. Social icon Jane Dudley was the founder of one of the South’s most prestigious charity events - the Swan Ball, benefiting Cheekwood. She traveled the world as the wife of U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Guilford Dudley, with whom she shared a landmark Nashville estate, Northumberland. A graduate of Nashville’s Parmer School, Ward Belmont and Vanderbilt University, she worked briefly for the Tennessean newspaper and later for Tiffany & Co., where she managed corporate accounts for more than twenty years and later served on the board of directors. Mrs. Dudley was also a member of the International Best Dressed List. In 1963 she was the founding chairman of The Swan Ball, now the nation’s longest running charity ball. She also chaired the Tiffany Feather Ball in New York from 1981-1991, the ball benefiting the Palm Beach Cancer Society in the 1970s (featuring entertainer Bob Hope), and in England, a ball at Blenheim Palace to raise funds for the historic castle’s roof. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Some age cracks to maple case. Losses to gilt throughout including to figures and gothic trim on the capital and to gothic trim on column base. Losses to paint on soundboard and base. Some strings loose. Pedals or strings not tested for funtionality.