Square Piano
The Preston's were music publishers and instrument makers in London. John Preston founded the firm in the mid 1770s and was joined by his son Thomas Preston around 1789. This is the only known instrument to bear John Preston's name. It is beautifully made with a case of satinwood in the style of furniture maker George Hepplewhite. It is unusually decorated with painted floral garlands and antique busts in beaded ovals. The painting is in the style of Angelica Kauffman, a Swiss Neoclassical painter who had a succesful career in London.
Technical description: Rectangular satinwood Hepplewhite case with narrow rosewood edging and ebony and holly striping painted outside with floral garlands and other elements including (on the sides) antique busts in beaded ovals and (on the lid) 2 beaded ovals flanking a central rectangular panel surmounted by griffons flanking an urn, the ovals and central panel depicting women and boys playing a variety of classical instruments, all painted somewhat in the style of Angelica Kauffmann: the case on 6 decorated square tapered legs on casters, the legs topped with carved Ionic capitals, with a 7th leg (missing) that held a damper pedal; composite nameboard with center section of 2 boards joined horizontally, with an inlaid oval on the lower board, the whole section flanked with clothbacked scrollwork panels, and the ends pieced out in a different wood, the nameboard not matching the veneers and inlay elsewhere on the case; a folding music rack behind the nameboard; English single action without back checks, the damper wires resting on short posts hinged to levers mounted on a rail over the keytails; compass FF-c4 (68 keys), ivory naturals with plain wood fronts, ebony-capped accidentals (except lowest of solid rosewood); top 10 keys extending below soundboard with hammers striking through a slit at rear of soundboard; top 10 notes undamped, lowest 10 notes with openwound strings, double strung throughout, tuning pins at right side; key frame and hinges altered and dust cover missing.
Technical description: Rectangular satinwood Hepplewhite case with narrow rosewood edging and ebony and holly striping painted outside with floral garlands and other elements including (on the sides) antique busts in beaded ovals and (on the lid) 2 beaded ovals flanking a central rectangular panel surmounted by griffons flanking an urn, the ovals and central panel depicting women and boys playing a variety of classical instruments, all painted somewhat in the style of Angelica Kauffmann: the case on 6 decorated square tapered legs on casters, the legs topped with carved Ionic capitals, with a 7th leg (missing) that held a damper pedal; composite nameboard with center section of 2 boards joined horizontally, with an inlaid oval on the lower board, the whole section flanked with clothbacked scrollwork panels, and the ends pieced out in a different wood, the nameboard not matching the veneers and inlay elsewhere on the case; a folding music rack behind the nameboard; English single action without back checks, the damper wires resting on short posts hinged to levers mounted on a rail over the keytails; compass FF-c4 (68 keys), ivory naturals with plain wood fronts, ebony-capped accidentals (except lowest of solid rosewood); top 10 keys extending below soundboard with hammers striking through a slit at rear of soundboard; top 10 notes undamped, lowest 10 notes with openwound strings, double strung throughout, tuning pins at right side; key frame and hinges altered and dust cover missing.
Artwork Details
- Title: Square Piano
- Maker: John Preston
- Date: 1790–1800
- Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
- Culture: British
- Medium: Satinwood case, rosewood edging, ebony and holly strip
- Dimensions: Case L. (perpendicular to keyboard): 60.8 cm (24 in.); W. (parallel to keyboard): 167.1 cm (65-7/8 in.); D. of case without lid: 22.7 cm (9 in.); Total H.: 87,5 cm (34-1/2 in.)
- Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Edward W. C. Arnold, 1978
- Object Number: 1980.217
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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