Square Piano

Ignace-Joseph Senft

Late 18th Century · Oak, ebony, bone, various materials. · Musical Instruments

This square piano has an unveneered oak and softwood case with four square, tapered legs. It has 61 keys (FF–f3), ebony naturals with plain fronts, and bone slips on stained accidental blocks. There are two knee levers located under the keyboard, the left raises the dampers, and the right activates a cloth mute, called a sordin or moderator stop. The piano has a German prellmechanik action with hammers facing away from the player that pivot in brass kapsels mounted on the key levers.

Artist

Ignace-Joseph Senft

Date

Late 18th Century

Medium

Oak, ebony, bone, various materials.

Culture

German

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889