A Continental Walnut Veneered Pine Silver Colored Metal Inlays, Possibly Pewter Pianoforte. Unknown maker, Austrian or Ita...

Description

A Continental Walnut Veneered Pine Silver Colored Metal Inlays, Possibly Pewter Pianoforte

Unknown maker, Austrian or Italian
Late 18th/early 19th c.
Walnut, brass, silvered metal, ivory, ebony
Unmarked
34 inches high x 45 inches wide x 87.5 inches deep

This pianoforte dates to around 1800 and is a magnificently attractive piece. The pianoforte is veneered with walnut and inlaid with a silver-colored metal, the pianoforte has its original ivory keys. The Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo Cristofori is credited with inventing the pianoforte in the 1690s. Italian for 'soft and loud', the pianoforte, or 'fortepiano' later became known simply as the 'piano' and underwent a series of design changes that continue today. However, rarely is an example so elaborately crafted as the piece we see here. The legs appear to be a later addition.

This early example of the pianoforte employs knee pedal dampers instead of foot pedals which were developed later. Crafted with fine walnut and silver inlay in an arabesque fashion, the grand pianoforte has a folding keyboard cover that rests atop the piano when the ivory and ebony keys are exposed. Conservation and tuning needed. Painted ivory label above the keyboard has the name, probably of the maker. The name is unclear but appears to be "Schweighofer Promberger Burger in Wien (from Vienna).

Provenance:
Schwighofers & Sohne was established in 1792 in Vienna, Austria, it is possible that this pianoforte is associated with that company.

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