Description

Restored, 1893, Pleyel grand piano beautifully hand-painted with a fairies, satyrs, nudes, monkeys, mythical creatures, birds, flowers and crested composers names. Signed by G. Meunier. There are numerous carved features; the piano cheeks are carved with fish whilst a lion's head appears on the lid lock. The lid also has a carved bevelled edge in a foliage design. The piano case sits on ornately carved french walnut frame, carved with foliage and flowers. Piano has six cabriole legs with scroll feet.

Berainesque style

Jean I Berain was a key figure in developing the decorative French Court Style under Louis XIV. His decorative designs were highly influential providing templates from which other craftsmen and artists worked. His arabesque and grotesque ornament combine fantastic iconography and exoticism signalling a transition from the grandiose and heavy Baroque to lighter more florid Rococo style. Although related to the Renaissance Grotteschi, his figures lost the more muscular and sinister qualities inherited from 16th century designs. The piano cabinet features fragile architectural constructions framing central statues of Pan or nudes. Colourfully attired figures such as animal tamers, dancers characters from the Commedia dell Arte also feature. Typical motifs of mythical creatures, birds, flowers, swags, scrolls, acanthus and crested composers names also adorn the cabinet. Berain's Singerie (monkeys) feature here and are illustratrative of a new design element to become highly fashionable during the Rococo period

G. Meunier

Georges Meunier (1869 - 1942) was an eminent french poster artist. He worked under Cheret at the Chaix print house in Paris where he produced more than 50 original posters advertising products and parisian events. His works are now considered iconic and reflect a golden era of french poster art. Meunier was born in Saint-Cloud, France in 1869. As a young man he moved to Paris and studied at the National School of Fine Arts and studied under Joseph-Robert Fleury. Later he attended The School for the Decorative Arts where he trained in both classical and modern design. Meunier started work at the Chaix print house in 1894 working under Cheret, the founder of the advertising poster movement. He drew his posters directly onto lithographic plates. He stayed until 1898. During his time there he designed 44 to 56 dated posters. Meunier became well known in Paris, his posters were exhibited in salons across the city.

Pleyel

Ignace Pleyel (1757-1831), born in Austria, set up as a piano manufacturer in 1807, aged 50. His early career was as a pianist and composer. He was Haydn’s pupil at Eisenstadt, Austria. In 1795, he moved to Paris and set up a music publishing firm “Maison Pleyel” that published thousands of works. In 1805, Ignace Pleyel joined forces with Charles Lemme, a well-known piano builder. Pleyel lacked the skills in piano building but had the money to invest. Their partnership lasted only a few years. After the split, Pleyel took on foreign workers, and set up his own business building square pianos and harps. It was a time of economic decline and his business suffered. By 1822, when Ignace formed a partnership with his son Camille and Pleyel had only sold approximately 600 pianos. In the late 1820’s Pleyel became associated with the famous teacher Kalkbrenner which brought in fresh money and clients. The company received its first gold medal at the 1827 expo (followed by 1827, 1834, 1839 and 1844). In 1832, Chopin gave his first concert at the Salons Pleyel, rue Cadet. This proved to be the best marketing for the company and its success went from strength to strength.