A Sheraton Style Satinwood, Mahogany and Marquetry Grand Piano made for the English market by Erard, Paris, 1897
Session begins in
December 18, 06:00 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Bid
12,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
the serial number 75447 stamped on left edge of soundboard, with ivory-veneered keys; the mahogany cross-banded inlaid satinwood case with wrapped ribbon and vine border along the top above panels of ribbon-tied musical trophies at sides, the case raised on square tapering legs with cascading bell-flower husks flanking a lyre-form twin pedal action; together with a later satinwood and amaranth Sheraton-style stool of rectangular form with square tapering legs
height 39 in.; length 83 ½ in.; width 53 in.
99 cm; 212 cm; 134.5 cm
Sent from the Erard Paris workshop to the Erard Showroom at 18 Great Marlborough Street, London in February 1897;
Acquired by Bing and Kathryn Crosby after 1956.
Born in Strasbourg (1752-1831), Sébastien Erard established a workshop in Paris by 1770 manufacturing harpsichords, fortepianos and harps, and during the French Revolution he established a branch in London. During the 19th century Erard became one of the leading piano manufacturers in Europe and supplied the British Royal Family as well as composers including Mendelssohn, Liszt and Ravel, and the firm continued in activity until the 1960s.
The company’s historic archives are on deposit with the Musée de la Musique, Paris and have been digitised and may be consulted online: https://archivesmusee.philharmoniedeparis.fr/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/92
The manufacturer’s logbook entry for piano number 75447 is dated February 1897 and describes the instrument as a Piano à queue no.1 Style Sheraton Citronnnier verni avec marqueterie (Grand Piano model no.1 in the Sheraton Style, polished satinwood with inlay), and indicates it left the workshop for the London showroom on 10 February 1897.
The piano was used in the 1956 film High Society starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra and appears prominently in the musical number Now You Has Jazz composed by Cole Porter and performed by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. It was subsequently acquired by Crosby for his Hillsborough residence.