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Steinway & Sons Presents Most Expensive Grand Piano Since the Foundation in 1853(03/03/2009)
Hamburg, November 10, 2008 — Since the foundation of Steinway & Sons in 1853, approximately 585,000 grand and upright pianos left the factories in Hamburg and New York, destined for customers around the world. Among these pianos, there are of course countless grands and uprights whose unusual design features, owner or special history are of particular interest. There has always been a tradition of honoring special occasions like anniversaries or special serial numbers with limited editions which were designed by famous artists or designers and it happens quite often that the Steinway craftsmen have to meet the challenge to produce special instruments for private customers; and this has just happened in the Steinway factory in Hamburg.
 The "Sound of Harmony" has been presented to its owner in Hamburg on November 5, 2008. It is the most valuable grand piano which has ever been handcrafted by Steinway & Sons since the foundation in 1853. It is a private order of the Chinese collector of paintings and art, Mr. Guo Qingxiang. The "Sound of Harmony" is based on a painting of famous Chinese artist Shi Qi. It is a masterpiece characterized by a total wood inlay all over the instrument. Tamo ash, tulip wood, amboyna burl, olive ash, rosewood, macassar ebony, or birdseye maple are just a few of the nearly 40 different sorts of wood which have been used to create the painting on the grand piano. All parts of the grand piano, that means the case (the so-called rim), the inner and outer lid, the music desk, the fallboard as well as the legshafts are equipped with inlays, which merge the total painting - a landscape with a peacock couple. It is a model D with a length of 2.74 m and it is a masterpiece in itself. Further exceptional features of this instrument are the casters, which are nearly hidden as they are more or less covered in the legs, the design of the legs and the lyre. Another highlight of this instrument is the Steinway & Sons logo and the special medallion with the name of the instrument in the inner rim which have both been manufactured in pure gold. The name of the instrument "Sound of Harmony" is the creation of the owner Mr. Guo himself. He wants to make the Chinese painting more popular all around the world. On the other hand, he wants to express that the beauty of harmony is the ultimate state of beauty. As a collector of precious paintings he knows how to appreciate values. That's why he asked Steinway & Sons to manufacture this masterpiece with the unrivalled love to detail, highest perfection, precision, and quality Steinway offers to the customers. |
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