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John Broadwood and Son 1799

Description

Date:

1799

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Origin:

London

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Serialnumber:

4883

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This square piano was made by John Broadwood and Son in 1799. It is totally similar to the one build one year later in the Eric Feller Collection.

The case of the instrument is made of mahogany with revolving band inlays in different woods. The instrument itself rests on a “french stand” and “music-shelf” under the instrument. On the sides are brass applications for covering the screws of the frame.

The keyboard is made in ivory and ebony. The nameboard is made of different woods and is signed in a cartouche with:

“John Broadwood and Son.

Makers to His Majesty and the Princeses

Great Pulteney Street London 1799 Golden Square.”

The instrument has a pedal for using the dampers and is double strung. The action is a simple single action with leather covered hammers and the typical Broadwood underdampers (these dampers were patented by Broadwood in 1783).

John Broadwood was born on 6^th October 1732 in Oldhamstocks near Cockburnspath in Scotland. He learned the profession of being a cabinetmaker like his father before.

In 1761 he started working for Burkat Shudi (1702 – 1773) in London and in 1770 became his business partner. In 1771 he opened his own shop on Great Pulteney Street in London. In 1769 he married Burkat Shudi’s daughter Barbara in her first marriage and had four children with her. After his wife’s death in 1776 he married Mary Kitson in 1781 and had six children with her. He died on 17^th July 1812 in London.

Other surviving instruments by Johannes Broadwood and Son:

• 1798 square piano (No. 4200) – National Museum of American History, Washington USA
• 1791 square piano (No. 1552) – Kenwood House, Hampstead UK
• 1795 square piano (No. 2844) – Collection Richard Burnett Finchcocks, Goudhurst UK