Grand piano
Date1835 ca.
Place MadeLondon, England, Europe
Serial No.9327
Signednone (nameboard is missing)MarkingsStamped on rosewood surface in front of wrest plank: 9327
Stamped on top edge of cheek: 1303
Stamped on CC♯ key lever: 320
Stamped on pedal lyre, and on endblocks (according to H. Day, provided by himself): 19936DescriptionCompass: CC-f4English grand action, with under dampers
Two pedals: una corda and dampers
Attribution is based on technical and decorative similarity of this instrument to one by Wm Stodart & Son at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (no. 647).
NMM piano Incorporates Thom & Allen’s compensation – tube frame, used by Stodart from 1820 to 1851 (or later). The Vienna piano (dated ca. 1830 in their 1966 catalogue) must have been made before 1837: it is inscribed “Makers to His Majesty” and Victoria came to throne in 1837. If 9327 is taken as serial no. of SMM piano, then it was made not long after Vienna example. Decorative brass inlay is consistent with a date before 1840’s.
Essentially identical to Vienna Stodart, but with different division of bridge and provision of inverted nut, consistent with later date. If, as probable, made before 1843 (date of Antoine Bord’s patent (see Harding, p. 188), inverted nut is extremely important early example.
DimensionsExcluding moldings:string lengths:
Length: 2190 mmf””: 59 mm
Width: 1205 mmc”: 300 mm
Height of case: 300 mmcc: 1577 mm
Height with legs and closed lid: 925 mm3-octave measure of keys: 489 mm
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Carole and Bruce Stavens, 1992
Object number05321
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