Images(3)

Square Piano

Date1800-1810

Artist/Maker George Astor

MediumMahogany: case, lid, stand, hammer rail; Spruce: soundboard; Beech: bridge, nut; Plain light hardwoods: case veneer banding, nameboard veneer, inner rim veneer, hitch-pin rail veneer; Limewood: key levers, hammers, damper blocks; Ebony: sharp veneer; Ivory: natural key tops; Brass: casters, some strings, hinges; Iron: pedal trapwork, tuning pins Textiles examined by L. Baumgarten, 5/10/1994. All textiles appear to be late replacements, as follows: Name board vents backed with orange silk satin, glued behind remnants of original glued green tabby silk (now blackened in color.) Front rail, back rail, balance rail punchings and hammer rest rail have replacement blue-black felted wool, possibly true felt (non-woven.) Dampers have replaced black felted woven cloth over thin red tabby wool (the red possibly old.) String support between sound board and pin block has red tabby wool (identified by eye), largely eaten by carpet beetles. (All fiber IDs are by eye.)

DimensionsNet dimensions exclude lid, stand and projecting moldings. All dimensions in mm except where noted. Length: 1,671 mm (net 1,643 mm); Width: 593 mm (net 588 mm); Height: 866 mm (net 216 mm)

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Alfred E. Bissell

Object number1994-49,A

DescriptionCASE DECORATION: The solid mahogany case is bordered above and below with chevron inlay banding and white wood. This decoration forms continuous horizontal bands and no rectangles. The plain mahogany molding that surrounds the instrument at the bottom extends 3-4 mm from the sides.
KEYWELL: The top perimeter of the keywell continues the chevron and white banding that is found on the case, but has thin black and white stringing and a dark wood band at the level of the sharp keys. The black-painted inscription oval has gold lettering and is surrounded by painted pearls. The inscription is flanked by painted leafy and floral swags and two fretwork nameboard vents.
LID: The lid is bordered with the same banding and chevron stringing as the sides and has a flap that is divided to allow opening only the keyboard or the keyboard and front section of the soundboard. The internal lid stick is missing, but one of the verticals of the folding music desk serves as a central lid support.
STAND AND PEDALS: The stand is a "French frame" with square tapered legs and casters. Chevron banding surrounds the top of the legs, below the aprons, which have vertical mahogany veneer. Six brass bolt covers are at the top of the legs on the front and sides. The legs and aprons have black and white line stringing and light-wood banding at the edges. The pedal is missing.
INTERNAL NOTES: A folding music desk is attached to the back of the nameboard. A dust board (now missing) had been hinged to the spine. The soundboard fretwork vent is missing.
COMPASS: FF–c4
OCTAVES: 5 oct. + 7 notes
STOPS: One pedal (now missing) raised dampers by pressing down on keys just behind the nameboard.

??==================
Square piano on French frame stand with music shelf, four square-section tapered legs, apron, casters, and bolt covers. Case is of mahogany with composite chevron stringing and white wood banding. Keys are of ivory with stained and ebony-topped sharps. Dust cover supports remain, though dust cover is missing. Nameboard has two fretted vents; veneered in horse chestnut (?) with dark banding, composite string inlay above and plain white & black strining below. The inscription in gold lettering on black background with painted astragal border is flanked by well-executed painted floral garlands. The bridge is of one piece with a double bend. The tuning pins are on the right end of the strings. A folding music desk which doubles as a lid prop is attached to the back of the nameboard.
ACTION AND MUSICAL SPECIFICATIONS: English double action with under hammers. The piano is double-strung, 5 1/2 octaves FF-c'''', one pedal (now missing) apparently lifted the rear of the keys, partially depressing the front end of the keys and raising the ("Irish") dampers (Irish dampers are fixed to wire stickers attached directly to the keys). Raising the dampers by depressing the fronts of the keys is a very unusual mechanical design.
Inscribed"New Patent / Astor & Compy / No. 79 Cornhill, London" in gold lettering on nameboard
Markings• "2707" (serial number) stamped on cheek block (just to left of the left cheek)
• "86" stamped in left rear corner of hitch pin rail and on back of nameboard
• "I F" cut into top key lever
ProvenanceOwned in mid-20th century by Mrs. George P. Bissell; given to CWF by Mrs. Alfred E. Bissell in 1994

Exhibition(s)