History

Sébastien Érard was born in Strasbourg. As a young boy he showed interest in geometry and architectural drawing. In his father's upholsterer workshop he had many occasions to demonstrate his technical ingenuity. When he was 16 years old he moved to Paris, where he was hired as an assistant of a harpsichords producer. He learned quickly and well. His skills put competitors in jealousy. They tried to stop him by informing the government that he is working illegally. He had strong support from Louis XVI. He received a license from him to work and sell in France. He continued his activity until 1789, as the French Revolution forced him to leave. They moved to London where Érard immediately began to produce instruments. The founder came back to Paris in 1796 and established a new factory and worked on improving harps and pianos. His family overseen the production in Great Britain, whereas Érard remained the boss of two factories. Many of the invented patents such as double repetition are used today as well. Érard died in 1831. The company was inherited by his nephew – Pierre. He proved his marketing gift by selling pianos to Queen Victoria, Franz Liszt or Felix Mendelshon. Till the first period of the XX century, Érard was considered to be the finest, and most expensive piano brand in the world. Under the influence of changing trends it became old fashioned and outdated in the second part of the XX century. At the end of this century, the stocks of the company changed owners several times. Finally Shimmel bought rights to use Érard's name, but they don't use it. The last models were made in 1988.