Giraffe piano
Piano
1815-1820 (made)
1815-1820 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This instrument was made in about 1820 by Corneille Van der Does (1769 - 1827), a piano-maker from Amsterdam. Owing to the shape of its case, this type of piano was known as a 'giraffe piano'. Like pianos being made in Vienna from about 1800, this example is fitted with a number of pedals, which, when depressed, could activate special musical effects such as drums and bells. It was used in popular arrangements of martial music. This instrument was the property of Sir William Quiller Orchardson R.A. (1832 - 1910), an eminent Scottish painter, who included it in two of his pictures.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
| Title | Giraffe piano (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Case of mahogany, pinewood, oak and satinwood, partly solid, partly veneered; carved and gilt Corinthian column and lion monopodes |
| Brief description | to Piano, 5 old Dutch, 1820-25, C.C.E. Van der Does |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Marks and inscriptions | Van der Does/ Amsterdam (1) Decoration 2) Makers's mark; Gothic; Nameboard; Painting; Van der Does; about 1820) |
| Credit line | Given by Sir William Quiller Orchardson RA |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This instrument was made in about 1820 by Corneille Van der Does (1769 - 1827), a piano-maker from Amsterdam. Owing to the shape of its case, this type of piano was known as a 'giraffe piano'. Like pianos being made in Vienna from about 1800, this example is fitted with a number of pedals, which, when depressed, could activate special musical effects such as drums and bells. It was used in popular arrangements of martial music. This instrument was the property of Sir William Quiller Orchardson R.A. (1832 - 1910), an eminent Scottish painter, who included it in two of his pictures. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 461:1, 2-1907 |
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| Record created | November 26, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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