Square Piano by Ignace Pleyel 1843.
A beautifully made and impressive Square Piano by Ignace Pleyel, Chopin’s preferred piano maker.
This fine example was owned by Rudolf Nureyev up until his death and formed part of his collection sold on behalf of the Rudolph Nureyev Foundation in 1995.
The beautifully flamed mahogany case is raised on an X-form trestle stand with two pedals: operating jeu céleste and dampers.
The rosewood nameboard is inlaid with fine brass lines and bears the label:
Medailles d’or, 1827, 1834 et 1839 Ignace Pleyel & Compie facteurs du Roi PARIS
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The Ivory keyboard has a compass of 6½ octaves, CC-g4.
The original entry in the Pleyel archive for this instrument (Serial No. 10169) gives the following information:
Piano carré, 3 cordes par note, 6 octaves 2/3, plaqué d’acajou ronceux à grosses moulures. Il a été commencé le 30 mai 1843 et terminé le 26 août de la même année. Il a été vendu en août 1843 à Messieurs Benacci & Ch. Peschier à Lyon pour la somme de 1600 francs.
This piano, which is in a remarkably original and unspoiled state, has been carefully restored to playing condition.
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