Upright (Lyre) Piano with Pedalboard
This type of upright piano was made almost exclusively in Berlin between 1820 and 1850. The Lyraflügel was a fashionable fixture of middle-class Biedermeier parlors in northern German lands. In the period of the Napoleonic occupation (1806–13), the lyre had become a symbol of freedom and liberation. It was popularized in songs based on the collection of patriotic poems, With Lyre and Sword, by the poet Theodor Körner (1791–1813). These songs, with their references not only to the lyres of Orpheus and Apollo but also to Friedrich Schiller’s ideas of freedom and liberation from tyranny, were sung for decades. The lyre became a widespread emblem, as ornament, as lyre guitar, or, here, as frame for the piano pedals. Schleip was the principal manufacturer of the Lyraflügel, even claiming in 1820 to be its inventor.
This example is even more incredible as it originally had a full pedalboard of 27 notes that could be played by a player's feet (like an organ). Two of these pedals actually were used to control the dampers and una corda, while the remaining were bass notes, some of which duplicated the low notes on the manual, while the others extended the range from a low FF to low CC.
Technical description: Upright (Lyre) piano with pedalboard: mahogany veneer case with metallic striping inlaid on nameboard and inner side of cheeks, upper portion lyre-shaped with gilt border and shafts representing springs; lyre arms extending from a central medallion bearing a relief profile of Mozart? backing on lyre panel; pedal action mounted on case floor, separate pedal soundboard and strings facing rear of case; compass manual FF-f4 (73 keys), pedal CC-d? (27 keys); ivory naturals, ebony accidentals, 2 pedals with hitches for dampers and "una corda" ; Action: manual, German "hangende" action with escapement, backcheck and spring return; damper arm lifted by back of key lever; pedal, German "stehende" action with escapement, back of key lever; pedal, German "stehende action with escapement, backcheck, spring return; pedalboard missing. Stringing: manual, lowest 22 notes, double-strung, rest triple-strung; lowest 8 notes wound with brass; pedal, double-strung throughout, lowest 13? notes originally wound with brass; pedal, double-strung throughout, lowest 13? notes originally wound. (L. Libin 19 Oct 76).
This example is even more incredible as it originally had a full pedalboard of 27 notes that could be played by a player's feet (like an organ). Two of these pedals actually were used to control the dampers and una corda, while the remaining were bass notes, some of which duplicated the low notes on the manual, while the others extended the range from a low FF to low CC.
Technical description: Upright (Lyre) piano with pedalboard: mahogany veneer case with metallic striping inlaid on nameboard and inner side of cheeks, upper portion lyre-shaped with gilt border and shafts representing springs; lyre arms extending from a central medallion bearing a relief profile of Mozart? backing on lyre panel; pedal action mounted on case floor, separate pedal soundboard and strings facing rear of case; compass manual FF-f4 (73 keys), pedal CC-d? (27 keys); ivory naturals, ebony accidentals, 2 pedals with hitches for dampers and "una corda" ; Action: manual, German "hangende" action with escapement, backcheck and spring return; damper arm lifted by back of key lever; pedal, German "stehende" action with escapement, back of key lever; pedal, German "stehende action with escapement, backcheck, spring return; pedalboard missing. Stringing: manual, lowest 22 notes, double-strung, rest triple-strung; lowest 8 notes wound with brass; pedal, double-strung throughout, lowest 13? notes originally wound with brass; pedal, double-strung throughout, lowest 13? notes originally wound. (L. Libin 19 Oct 76).
Artwork Details
- Title: Upright (Lyre) Piano with Pedalboard
- Maker: Johann Christian Schleip (German, 1786–1848)
- Date: 1820–44
- Geography: Germany
- Culture: German
- Medium: Wood, various materials
- Dimensions: Case L. (perpendicular to keyboard): 62 cm (24-1/2 in.); W. (parallel to keyboard): 123.5 cm (48-4/8 in.); Total H.: 214.7 cm (84-5/8 in.)
- Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.3347
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Johann Christian Schleip
ca. 1820–44
Johann Wilhelm Oberlender (the Elder)
mid-18th century
Érard
George Henry Blake
ca. 1840
probably Austrian
early 19th century
Carl Lang
ca. 1830–40
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.