Grand Piano
This instrument is a rare eighteenth century pianoforte made in Italy following the style of Johann Andreas Stein of Augsburg.
Technical description: Mahogany veneer over softwood and beech with veneered panels bordered by crossbanded veneer of contrasting color and black-and-white geometric inlay; nameboard and inner edge of angled cheeks inlaid with quarter-round bead of alternating sections of ivory and ebony; four turned and fluted mahogany legs; compass FF-f3 (61 keys); ivory naturals, ebony slips over black-stained accidental blocks; one knee lever (left side) operating dampers, modern chromed zither tuning pins; veneered wrestplank, German action with escapement, no back check, much restored; keyframe not placed over a sled, but lifted at the rear by wedges glued against belly rail; rack over strings supporting damper jacks bearing felt-lined blocks; lowest 40 notes double-strung, remainder triple-strung, none wound (recent strings).
Technical description: Mahogany veneer over softwood and beech with veneered panels bordered by crossbanded veneer of contrasting color and black-and-white geometric inlay; nameboard and inner edge of angled cheeks inlaid with quarter-round bead of alternating sections of ivory and ebony; four turned and fluted mahogany legs; compass FF-f3 (61 keys); ivory naturals, ebony slips over black-stained accidental blocks; one knee lever (left side) operating dampers, modern chromed zither tuning pins; veneered wrestplank, German action with escapement, no back check, much restored; keyframe not placed over a sled, but lifted at the rear by wedges glued against belly rail; rack over strings supporting damper jacks bearing felt-lined blocks; lowest 40 notes double-strung, remainder triple-strung, none wound (recent strings).
Artwork Details
- Title: Grand Piano
- Maker: Enrico Gustadt
- Date: 1798
- Geography: Naples, Italy
- Culture: Italian
- Medium: Wood, various materials
- Dimensions: Instr. 215cm x 97cm x 29cm
Legs 7cm x 7cm x 64cm (at least four are removable) - Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Charles Edward Brown, 1967
- Object Number: 67.51
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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Bartolomeo Cristofori (Padua 1655–1731 Florence)
1720
Antonius Vinaccia (Italian, Naples active 1754–1781 Naples)
1781
Michele Todini (Italian, Saluzzo, Piedmont, bapt. 1616–1690, Rome) , designer
ca. 1670
ca. 1725
Antonio Stradivari (Italian, Cremona 1644–1737 Cremona)
1711
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