Square piano
Maker
William Bent
Date1807-1809 ca.
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
ModelNA
Serial No.None
SignedWill[superscript m] Bent, / BOSTON [nameboard inscription in gold, on black oval)DescriptionCompass: FF-c4 (5-1/2 octaves).
No hand stops; 1 pedal (missing)
Naturals: ivory, no scribe lines
Sharps: ebony
Key fronts: molded wood
Tuning pins on right
Prop stick on left
Mahogany with chevron stringing and light wood banding
Skirt on bottom of stand with four square, tapering legs, casters
Light wood nameboard with painted floral garland; wreath and five blue flowers
Double-strung throughout; wound bass strings
English double action with captive (Irish) dampers
DimensionsThree-octave measure: 487 (Sigal)
Length=1,683 (Sigal)
Width=595 (Sigal)
Depth=230 (Sigal)
Height=500 (Sigal), but 790 (Clinkscale online)
ProvenanceMrs. George Bent (descendant of maker?), place unknown; County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California (where it was catalog No. 1036.20-1); Frank Renfrow, Fort Thomas, Kentucky; Unknown person(s), Dayton, Ohio; Marlowe A. Sigal Collection (2011.07).
Published ReferencesClinkscale, Martha. _Makers of the Piano 1700-1820_ (1995), 21, no. 1. (LIsted as William and Adam Bent)
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Unpublished checklist (undated).
_Clinkscale Online: A research database dedicated to the worldwide cataloging of pianos built before 1800_. CEP no. 424
Albert R. Rice. _Four Centuries of Musical Instruments: The Marlowe A. Sigal Collection._ Arglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer PUblishing Ltd., 2015. Page 62
Credit LineGift of Marlowe and Elise Sigal, 2019
Object number15076
On View
Not on view
