Square Piano (Portable Model)

ca. 1790

Not on view

Described as a portable model square piano. Rectangular mahogany veneered case with stringing and borders of lighter veneer (satinwood), back of case not veneered, with 4 slender, square tapered legs decorated with inlay hinged to case bottom so as to fold against bottom, nameboard decorated with floral intarsia, with Battersea white enamel nameplate in oval brass frame; note names written on natural key fronts with C keys marked G, etc., implying transposed tuning; other note names written in ink next to naturals with molded keyfronts, ebony accidentals; brass-knobbed handstop in well to left of keyboard operating damper batten; English simple action, no escapement; overhead dampers on wood arms hinged to removable panel in case back, returned by quill springs; double-strung throughout, no wound strings.

Artwork Details

Title: Square Piano (Portable Model)
Manufacturer: Longman & Broderip
Date: ca. 1790
Geography: London, United Kingdom
Culture: British
Medium: Mahogany veneer case, ivory naturals, ebony accidentals.
Dimensions: Case length (perpendicular to keyboard) : 40.8 cm
Width (parallel to keyboard): 75.5 cm
Case depth without lid: 16.3 cm
Total height: 80.3 cm
Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Object Number: 89.4.2849
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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