Description

Exhibition Piano

Empire style, 1901, Ibach model 2 grand piano for sale with a mahogany case and gate legs. Entire cabinet decorated with ormolu mounts depicting scenes of greek gods, goddesses and wreaths. The openwork music desk is carved with stylised palmettes, waves and flowers with a central lyre surrounded by laurel leaves. The piano cheek is adorned with ormolu beading accents and a central laurel wreath and bow. The square, gate piano legs are carved with acanthus and decorated with ormolu mounts. The two-pedal piano lyre features four brass rods and is flanked with carved wings. A circular filigree ormolu mount sits at its base featuring intertwined flowers and tendrils with a central cherubs head. The front panel features intricate ormolu mounts depicting scenes from classical mythology. In one piece, Selene drives her moon chariot across the heavens. In the centre, Pan's head and griffins sit in an arabesque frame. In another Aphrodite reclines naked in a chariot pulled by a pair of swans. The sides of the piano cabinet feature repeated circular ormolu mounts of a crowned, greek female head with a laurel leaf wreath and corn stalks. This is one of 12 unique instruments made as exhibition models for a regional exhibition in Dusseldorf in 1902.

Empire Style

Empire style furniture had an imposing character with plenty of decorative elements. The pieces had a rigid layout and featured basic geometric forms, often with flat surfaces and sharp corners. The compositions were symmetrical. The inspiration for decorative elements came mostly from the Classical World and war. Gods and Goddesses and mythical beasts are often featured. Laurel leaves and trophies, symbols of victory and glory, were often widely used. Piano has an eighty-eight note keyboard and a two-pedal piano lyre.