Square piano
Date1790 ca.
Place MadeGermany, Europe
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsInscription written in pencil on the e3 key lever by a late-19th/early 20th-c. restorer. This is difficult to decipher and interpret. An attempted reading is:
“Neufeind”, then a street name, number, and town, "Gilschinestr. 62[?] at Solnn[?]”.
However, the street name and apparent English "at" are problematic, and "Solnn" might be "Solln", a suburb of Munich.
Tacked to the bottom of the instrument is a manila tag with the inscription “Ralph Ritchie / #79”. Also on the bottom are two printed orange stickers one reading “PRINCETON UNIVERSITY / Inv. No. 25398”, the other the same, except with the number 25697.
DescriptionThis unsigned piano was likely made in Middle or South Germany during the last decade of the 18th century.
Compass: FF-f3 (five octaves)
Two knee-levers:
Left: buff-stop
Right: dampers
Case made of walnut. Front and side walls veneered in walnut, concealing dovetail joints.
Key covers:
Naturals: ebony
Sharps: dark-stained pearwood with ivory tops.
Action: Prellmechanik (without escapement) with intermediate lever; hammer and intermediate lever are pivoted in one common Kapsel.
Stringing: bichord throughout.
DimensionsCase dimensions:
Length: 1530 (1543 with moldings) mm
Width: 560 (565 with molding) mm
Height walls including bottom board: 201 mm
Tool-box width: 141 mm
Keyboard width: 830 mm
Soundboard width at the front: 560 mm
Three-octave span: 482-483 mm.
ProvenanceThe piano was an heirloom in the family of Ralph K. Ritchie, Kent, Connecticut. Previously it was in New Rochelle, New York. It was also on loan for a time to an historic house in Princeton, New Jersey.
Credit LineGift of the family of Ralph K. Ritchie, 2008
Object number14336
On View
Not on view
1790 ca.
