The Art Case Collection - First Art Case Steinway Grand Piano (#1225)
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- First Art Case Steinway Grand Piano (#1225)
This important instrument is the very first art-case piano that Steinway & Sons ever made. It also is one of the earliest grand pianos that the company ever made.
It was built in 1857, only seven years after Heinrich Steinway arrived in the U.S. from Germany. He built it with the expertise that he and his family had already accumulated in the piano making craft. The workbench on which he made this piano can still be seen at Steinway Hall in New York City. The up-to-date piano technology that Heinrich used when he built this piano makes this instrument, in spite of its age, a very modern piano, even by today's standards.
Apart from the musical instrument, this piano remains one of the most important Steinways ever built as a work of art. It is very likely that Heinrich was involved with the casework, since the woodwork on the outside is neatly integrated with the painted designs on the cast iron plate under the strings on the inside.
It has been suggested for many years that the case of solid Brazilian rosewood carvings were done by Gustav Herter, the later of the Herter Brothers, the most important American cabinetmakers in the U.S. in the third quarter of the 19th century. In any case, it is obvious that musical instrument maker and furniture maker worked very closely together on this instrument.
The carved trunks of grapes are hanging lusciously from the curled and curved legs, typical for American furniture from the period. The inset carved oval medallions on the side of the case are playful allegories on music, depicting numerous musical instruments. The inset square panels on the sides are marquetry inlaid with floral designs of intertwining grapevines and frolicking butterflies, which have ivory inlaid 'feelers'.
According to the Steinway archives, the piano was commissioned
by Mr. Frans Wynkoop from New York City. He must have had a wonderful sense
for the 'good life', bringing elements into this piano (and probably his own
life) of wine and music. The piano, in fact, could be dedicated to Dionysus,
the Greek god of wine, or his Roman counterpart Bacchus. Wynkoop may also
have intended to play on his family name. "Wynkoop" is Dutch for "wine purchase"
or "wine buyer" and it would not be a wild speculation that he or his family
were once wine traders.
This one-of-a-kind, first Steinway art-case grand piano serial # 1225 is currently
on display at Steinway Hall at 109 West 57th Street in New York City.