Description
Royal Piano
Unique, 1899 Bluthner grand piano with a rosewood case. Cabinet decorated with Art Nouveau and Empire style elements. Piano bought by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in the Coronation year of 1902 to be situated in the ballroom of Malborough House. It was sold in 1936 to Major Maconochie in Bath. This piano is in great original condition having only had two previous owners. A rare opportunity to acquire a former royal piano.
Exhibition Piano
Piano was showcased at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle.
Art Nouveau
The piano cheek is inlaid with an Art Nouveau design featuring a stylised female head surrounded by whiplash lines, musical instruments and stylised foliage. Female heads with flowing tresses and floral headbands in gilt metal sit atop each piano cheek. The three piano legs are heavily carved, yet appear understated due to minimal use of gilt filigree banding. Each leg is a tapered, four-sided baluster shape, carved with sunflowers and foliage. The piano lid is attached with two large ornate, brass hinges in a flowing intertwined design with symmetrical foliar motifs. The piano fall is inlaid with a symmetrical Art Nouveau design of stylised foliage and whiplash lines in coloured woods. The piano lid is also inlaid with an Art Nouveau style border in a stylised rinceau of interlocking foliage and flowers in coloured woods.
Empire Style
On the cabinet side panel columnar, Empire style gilt mounts flankeach side of the inlay. Napoleonic emblems of stars, palmettes and foliage feature here. The two-pedal lyre has three central spindles accented with gilt acanthus and palms at either end. Two gilt lions feet frame the cabriole lyre. The front panel features gilt, Empire mount motifs. Bees fly around flowers, between two winged lions couchant. Scrolling whiplash lines lead to and outcrop of poppies, foliage more bees and thin trailing ribbons.
Music Desk
The butterfly shaped, music desk is made from bevelled glass and an intricate metal filigree design. A central circular tree of life is surrounded by a laurel leaf wreath. Whiplash lines and stylised foliage and flowers complete the design.
Frame
The piano has a specially cast, ornate, burnished gilt frame.
