'Viennese' Grand, maker unknown,                      18th century

This is a typical example of a piano from the time of Mozart, and perfect for playing his beautiful music. Pianos like this were made not only in Vienna, but elsewhere in Austria and Germany.  Many were made in cherry, but the case of this one is walnut. It was restored by Michael Cole in 2006, and comes with his report on the restoration.

The five-octave keyboard has all the notes required for Mozart's piano repertoire, but he does make use of every one!  It has the usual two knee-levers for the bass and treble dampers, and a central brass knob on the fascia board for the moderator; damper-lift and moderator are replacements. 

The natural keys are covered in ebony as usual, and importantly the sharps are covered in bone, not ivory.  A vital point for anyone in USA considering purchase!  And it makes life a bit easier for Europe as well.

The brass frame probably originally contained the maker's name, but it was replaced long ago by a little image.

The estimate for this one is £3,000 - £5,000 - just compare that wth the price of a modern replica!

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© David Hackett