Not currently on display at the V&A

Piano

1869 (made)
Artist/Maker
John Broadwood & Sons (maker)
Place of origin
London (made)

By about 1860, upright pianos were mass-produced, and John Broadwood & Son of London were one of Britain's leading manufacturers. Because they were so much smaller than grand pianos, these instruments were particularly useful in compact living spaces, ranging from terrace houses to yachts. This example was made in 1867 for the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, which had been launched twelve years earlier. It is carved with open fretwork, a popular form of furniture decoration at that time.


Object details

Category
Musical Instruments
Object type
Piano
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Piano
  • Candle Holder
  • Candle Holder
  • Keys
Materials and techniques
Planed and joined mahogany case, open fretwork mahogany panel , ripple-moulded edging to the lid at the back of the instrument, gadrooned edging at the front of the keyboard. Ebony sharps, ivory-covered naturals, brass pedals
Mahogany
Ebony
Ivory
Brass
Edging
Moulding
Joining
Brief description
English upright piano, mahogany case, John Broadwood & Sons, 1867.
Physical description
Upright piano, with a range of eighty-two notes CC - a4, with mahogany case, spiral-twist front legs and open fretwork panel at the back. Pair of brass pedals at the base of the instrument.
Dimensions
  • Width: 126.3cm
  • Height: 102.8cm
  • Depth: 50.5cm
Dimensions taken from Howard Schott: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part I: Keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p 131 - 132.
Marks and inscriptions
  • John Broadwood & Sons, London (Inscription on inside of the keyboard lid.)
  • 30818 B (Serial number on the wrest-plank of the piano.)
  • Transliteration
  • Transliteration
Gallery label
  • UPRIGHT PIANO, John Broadwood & Sons, London, 1867. Mahogany casework, ivory naturals and ebony sharps and flats. Keyboard Compass of eighty-two notes, CC-a4, with a check action. CIRC.144-1957 Keyboard catalogue No. 53 The piano was formerly on the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert which was launched in 1855. Given by Mrs Edmundson.(pre September 2000)
  • PIANO ENGLISH: 1867 Made by John Broadwood and Sons, London Mahogany Circ.144-1957 Given by Mrs Edmundson John Broadwood was a Scottish cabinetmaker who sought his fortune in London in the 1760s. His master was the Swiss harpsichord maker Burkat Schudi from whom Broadwood inherited a highly successful business through marriage. Broadwood realised pianos would replace harpsichords and his innovations in the action of the instrument made him the most sought after maker by composers. Beethoven's favourite instruments was reputedly the piano presented to him by the company. By 1823 the company had outgrown its original Soho workshop, which was retained as a show-room, and began large-scale production in a factory at Horseferry Road, Westminster. By the middle of the century Broadwood pianos were shipped all over the Empire and the Americas. This piano was made specially for the Royal Tacht 'Victoria and Albert', which was launched in 1855.(June 1994 - September 1994)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Edmundson
Object history
This piano was given to the Museum by Mrs Edmundson of Gidea Park, Essex.
Summary
By about 1860, upright pianos were mass-produced, and John Broadwood & Son of London were one of Britain's leading manufacturers. Because they were so much smaller than grand pianos, these instruments were particularly useful in compact living spaces, ranging from terrace houses to yachts. This example was made in 1867 for the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, which had been launched twelve years earlier. It is carved with open fretwork, a popular form of furniture decoration at that time.
Bibliographic reference
Howard Schott: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part I: Keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), pp. 131 - 132.
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
Circ. 144:1 to 4-1957

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Record createdMay 16, 2001
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58870/piano-john-broadwood/
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