Square Piano
Though this piano was built in the Netherlands, it features many elements of English piano design. The mechanism is an English action and employs an intermediate lever of a type patented in London in 1786. Additionally, the top 15 strings are struck by hammers located beneath a gap at the back of the soundboard; this feature, another English innovation, allows the case to accomodate an extended keyboard. The instrument is housed in a small, mahogany case, and the stand is furnished with handles on the sides and an arched front to leave room for the player's knees to operate a knee lever to lift the dampers.
Technical description: Square piano mahogany veneer case with black inlaid striping, curved nameboard veneered with satinwood, inlaid oval nameplate, ornate gilt carrying handles at ends, table stand with 4 square, tapered legs; unpierced tuning pins; ivory naturals with molded key fronts, ebony accidentals, inoperable knee lever, possibly to raise dampers by lifting rear of key levers, compass C-f4 (66 keys); English double action, intermediate lever with no escapement; wires connected to backs of key levers pass through hitchpin rail and bear small cloth-padded dampers; single strung throughout, bottom 6 notes wound; key levers d#3-f4 extend beneath soundboard, hammers strike through opening at rear edge of soundboard. (L. Libin 4 Aug 76.)
Technical description: Square piano mahogany veneer case with black inlaid striping, curved nameboard veneered with satinwood, inlaid oval nameplate, ornate gilt carrying handles at ends, table stand with 4 square, tapered legs; unpierced tuning pins; ivory naturals with molded key fronts, ebony accidentals, inoperable knee lever, possibly to raise dampers by lifting rear of key levers, compass C-f4 (66 keys); English double action, intermediate lever with no escapement; wires connected to backs of key levers pass through hitchpin rail and bear small cloth-padded dampers; single strung throughout, bottom 6 notes wound; key levers d#3-f4 extend beneath soundboard, hammers strike through opening at rear edge of soundboard. (L. Libin 4 Aug 76.)
Artwork Details
- Title: Square Piano
- Maker: Corneille Charles Emanuel van der Does (Dutch, 1769–1827)
- Date: ca. 1800
- Geography: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Culture: Dutch (Amsterdam)
- Medium: Wood, various materials
- Dimensions: Case L. (perpendicular to keyboard): 38 cm
W. (parallel to keyboard): 107 cm
Case D. (without lid): 23 cm
Total H.: 81 cm
Stand: 112cm x 39cm 65cm - Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 06.1243
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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