A Louis XVI style kingwood, mahogany, parquetry, marquetry and giltwood grand piano

BY JOHN BROADWOOD & SONS, LONDON, SERIAL NO. 44283, CIRCA 1895

Details

A Louis XVI style kingwood, mahogany, parquetry, marquetry and giltwood grand piano
By John Broadwood & Sons, London, Serial No. 44283, Circa 1895
The hinged top inlaid with lozenge parquetry and centred by an oval reserve depicting foliage and insects, the border banded with Vitruvian scolling, the garland-hung sides decorated with rosettes within lozenges, each panel centred by a framed oval reserve with a foliate trophy, the music stand with foliage and insects, signed JOHN BROADWOOD/&SONS/LONDON, on six Ionic columnar tapering supports with castors
Closed: 38½ in. (97.8 cm.) high; 101 in. (256.5 cm.) wide; 59½ in. (152 cm.) deep, Open: 68 in. (172.5 cm.) high

Sale room notice

Please note that the castor lacking in one of the catalogue illustrations is retained.

Lot Essay

During its lengthy history, John Broadwood & Sons' instruments have been enjoyed by such celebrated pianists as Mozart, Haydn, Chopin, Beethoven and Liszt. The quality of the inlay, carving and design of the present example suggests that the firm commissioned the case decoration from one of the fine London firms who were producing the high-style French-inspired furniture that was in vogue at the time. Cases for Broadwood's art-case pianos were often decorated by such ateliers as Mellier, Cottier and Gillows. The latter was commissioned to create an "Artistic Pianoforte' for Broadwood's display at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle.

For detailed provenance information, please contact the department.

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