Broadwood 1813 - Sold

This is the first time that I have chosen a picture of the back of a piano for the leading image.  But it does show what a very special piano this is: the beautiful veneering and cross-banding, the extra pair of legs to match those at the front, the continued gilt-brass decoration, and the dummy drawers all confirm that this piano was intended to be placed in the middle of a room, not pushed up against a wall as usual.  In this way, the pianist could face her friends in the audience, and not have to turn her back on them.  Of course, the piano was played with the main lid closed.  

... whilst the top note is f4 - not usual until the 1820s.  Thus this piano has a remarkable 6½-octave compass.  The above picture also shows that the wrestpins for the top notes have been moved from the back to the right-hand end to avoid overcrowding of the main wrestplank.  This feature was more generally adopted a few years later.

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