Physical description
The keyboard compass is 85 notes, AAA-a4. The instrument is straight strung with individual hitchpin loops on an iron frame composed of separate elements bolted together. The stringing comprises eight overspun unichord courses , three overspun bichord courses, six overspun trichord courses, and 68 simple trichord courses.
The instrument has an English check action with underdampers to b2. The dampers are strongly graduated in size from bass to treble. The two wooden pedals operate the una chorda (left) and sustaining (right) devices.
The oak case was originally stained green (now faded) and is decorated with birds, fruits and flowers executed in relief in silvered and gilt gesso.
Place of Origin
London (made)
London (decorated)
Date
1883 (made)
1883 (decorated)
Artist/maker
Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (Sir), born 1833 - died 1898 (designer)
Faulkner, Kate (decorator)
Broadwood, John, born 1732 - died 1812 (manufacturer)
Materials and Techniques
Oak, stained and decorated with gold and silver-gilt gesso
Marks and inscriptions
John Broadwood & Sons, London
Makers's mark; Gothic; On name board above the keys; inlaid
21418
Makers's mark; near right corner of the soundboard; printed; ink; 1883
Dimensions
Length: 266 cm, Width: 140.5 cm, Height: 45.7 cm
Object history note
This grand piano was commissioned from Morris & Co by A.A. Ionides for the second drawing room of his house in Holland Park, London. The design of the case is probably due to the influence of Edward Burne-Jones and his earlier designs for the Orpheus piano, made by the firm of John Broadwood, which originally belonged to Frances Graham, Lady Horner. Burne-Jones was interested in modifications to the shape and size of grand pianos and revived features taken from eighteenth-century harpsichords, including a trestle stand with six legs, a rectangular cover for the keyboard, and a sharp angle at the narrow end of the top. All these features were incorporated into the Ionides piano which was manufactured by Broadwoods. The gesso decoration was designed and executed by Kate Faulkner who was encouraged to persist in such delicate work by Philip Webb.
Ionides lent his grand piano to the first exhibition organised by the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, held at the New Gallery in 1888. The grand piano was displayed in the North Gallery and the catalogue entry, No. 266a, identified the maker as John Broadwood and Sons and Kate Faulkner as responsible for the design and execution of the gesso. The catalogue also listed the ten craftsmen involved:
case maker J. Banks
caibnet makers, J. Wilson, W. Gilliam, S. Holkard, T. Pegg
sound board maker, W. Robinson
maker-off of scale, T. Mead
key-makers, C. Tillson, G. Woolston
finisher of action, J. Shepherd
The grand piano was given to the Museum by Mrs. A.C. Ionides, a daughter-in-law of A.A. Ionides.
Descriptive line
piano, oak, stained and decorated with gold and silver-gilt gesso; designed by Edward Burne-Jones, decorated by Kate Faulkner and made by Broadwood & Sons for Morris & Co., English, 1883
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Howard Schott: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part I: Keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 57
Jonathan Meyer, 'The Nineteenth Century. Empire and Eclecticism', in 'The Layman's Book of British Furniture 1600-2000'. London, The Intelligent Layman Publisher Ltd, 2005, pp. 104-185, ill. p. 198
Labels and date
Edward Burne Jones 1833–1885
Grand Piano
1884–85
Burne-Jones based the design on the case and stand of a harpsichord. His piano formed part of the lavish refurbishment of 1 Holland Park, commissioned by Alexander Ionides, brother of A. C. Ionides. The house was decorated by Morris & Co., the firm established by William Morris, and became a showpiece of advanced artistic taste.
Oak, stained and decorated with gold and silver gesso
Decorated by Kate Faulkner; manufactured by John Broadwood
Given by Mrs. A. C. Ionides 1927. Museum no. W.23-1927 [May 2003]
Production Note
Attribution note: Although Broadwood pianos were produced on a large scale, the decoration by Kate Faulkner to Burne Jones's sketches for A.C. Ionides makes it unique.
Reason For Production: Commission
Materials
Oak; Gesso; Gold leaf; Silver
Techniques
Staining; Joining; Modelled
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Pomegranates
Categories
Musical instruments
Production Type
Unique
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
