Steinway & Sons, model O Sheraton (Sketch #617a),5’10½” Art Case Grand

PIANO:   Steinway & Sons, model O Sheraton (Sketch #617a),5’10½” Grand, serial # 147554

 Finish:   High Polished Honduras Mahogany in Art-Case design

Description:    This is one of the most rare Steinway & Sons model O, 5’10” grands in a special Art Case with double gated legs and stretcher connecting legs and lyre.  This is the special (Sketch No. 617a “Sheraton,”) corresponds to a New York Grand Model O Honduras Mahogany, Sketch No. 617a “Sheraton,” completed on December 3, 1910, and shipped to former dealer Cluett & Sons of Albany, New York, on June 5, 1911.  From my research, there may have been 2 to 4 made EVER!!  This piano was purchased in 1994, completely rebuilt and refinished a new soundboard from Beethoven Pianos in NYC.  The owners were professional artists who collected very fine things and moved from Cambridge, NY to Virginia and had to part with the piano.  This is an incredible find in a piano from the Golden Age of Steinway.  If new, this piano would cost easily over $130,000 if the wood were available which it is not!  It is truly a magnificent instrument and a museum piece.  One of the best sounding and playing pianos you can find—a true musician’s instrument—and a buy of a lifetime!

Steinway & Sons, model O, Louis XV, 5’10½” Grand & Bench

PIANO:   Steinway & Sons, model O, Louis XV,   5’10½” Grand & Bench, serial # 190934

Finish:   Hand Carved Louis XV in Figured English Mahogany

Description:    This rare Louis XV Steinway model O was reputedly owned by the famous composer, Rudolf Friml.  Made in New York on November 21, 1918, this piano’s original owner was Louis G. Myers, 102 Waverly Place, NYC.  Assuming he sold the piano to the famous Mr. Friml, this instrument was subsequently purchased used by a very prominent industrialist and his wife for their daughter in the mid-1950’s at which time the piano was refinished to its current condition. Replete with famous Steinway features like Diaphramatic Soundboard, Hexagrip Maple Pinblock, and made in the Golden Period of Steinway, this piano was restrung and had new highly-prized Steinway pre-War hammers installed prior to WWII and before the current owner acquired it.  This rare model has been completely reconditioned to concert-level performance while retaining the old world sound and quality.  This piano had very little playing on the new hammers and is truly a beautiful sounding and playing piano—a true musician’s instrument!  This is a true blessing to have and work on and is a bona-fide musician’s piano with supreme musicality, furniture and provenance!!  Beyond Rare!

WEBER, 5’1” French Provincial Grand Piano

PIANO: WEBER, 5’1” French Provincial Grand Piano/Bench,  Ser. # 79696

Finish:   Rare Hand-Carved American Black Walnut Lacquer Finish

 Description:  Albert Weber was one of America’s most respected piano builders.  Preferred by Paderewski and others, Weber pianos were always highly praised and deep rich musical instruments.  Weber, like Knabe, Chickering and Mason & Hamlin was bought out in the late ‘20’s by Aeolian American Corporation.  This piano was manufactured early in 1928 and was probably made in East Rochester, NY along with its high-end cousins, Mason & Hamlin, Knabe and Chickering.  This piano represents a level of craftsmanship that is almost extinct and truly very rare today.  The special French Provincial case in Black Walnut featured hand carved legs and moldings around the case. Black Walnut is now virtually unavailable in any quantity and is very rare!  This piano features the original special hammers of German felt that have a remarkable sound and has been conserved to keep the original tone quality.  This piano was rebuilt in the 1970’s and had new hammers, strings and more!  This is a true museum piece that will adorn any living room with grace and charm.  SUPER SUPER RARE and UNIQUE!

Weber 5'1" Black Walnut French Provincial Grand Leg Detail

Weber 5'1 Black Walnut French Provinicial Soundboard

WEBER, 5’1” Italian Florentine Art Case Grand Piano and Bench

PIANO:  WEBER, 5’1” Art Case Grand Piano and Bench, Serial # 81319

Finish: Inlaid Italian Florentine Double Leg in American Walnut Lacquer Finish.

 Description:  Albert Weber was one of America’s most respected piano builders.  Preferred by Paderewski and others, Weber pianos were always highly praised and deep rich musical instruments.  Weber, like Knabe, Chickering and Mason & Hamlin was bought out in the late ‘20’s by Aeolian American Corporation.  This piano was manufactured early in 1930 and was probably made in East Rochester, NY along with its high-end cousins, Mason & Hamlin, Knabe and Chickering.  This piano represents a level of craftsmanship that is almost extinct and truly very rare today.  The special art case furniture design with the double turned gated legs in an Italian Florentine style with floral inlays on all legs and the music rack with exotic woods like quilted walnut, mahogany, rosewood, black walnut and more!  There is also a medallion above the treble leg of quilted walnut and more that is extraordinary!  This piano features the original special hammers of German felt that have a remarkable sound and has been conserved to keep the original tone quality.  This piano was rebuilt in the 1980’s and the tuning pins are like new tight!  This is a true museum piece that will adorn any living room with grace and charm.  SUPER SUPER RARE and UNIQUE!

Wurlitzer, 4’10” Art Case, “Arabian Nights”, Baby Grand & Matching Bench, serial # 113491

PIANO: Wurlitzer, 4’10” Art Case, “Arabian Nights”, Baby Grand & Matching Bench, serial # 113491

Finish:    American Walnut with Tiger Maple/Birdseye Maple Panels in Satin Lacquer Finish.

Description: Famous for their cabinets andbeing the #1 American home piano, Wurlitzer has been the best selling American piano through the late 80’s.  This piano, made in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1930,  is as example of Wurlitzer’s pre-WWII fascination with unique cabinet designs.  This Art Case Grand, dubbed the “Arabian Nights” model, harkens back to the Moorish cabinet style that was popular and very exotic prior to WWII.  This piano was purchased by the 2nd owner, after it had been completely rebuilt in Atlanta, GA.  It receivednew pinblock, strings, dampers, shimmed soundboard, reconditioned action, new pearlized keytops and refinishing.  The original piano had ivory which came off prior to rebuilding so the rebuilder took extra care to cover the keys with very special, rare pearlized material.  We reconditioned this piano to bring it to a much higher level of performance than it ever had before.  A very rare find !!!

Hardman, 5’0 Baby Grand Piano & Matching Bench, serial # 96360

PIANO:  Hardman, 5’0 Baby GrandPiano & Matching Bench, serial # 96360

 Finish:   French Provincial Hand-Carved Walnut in high-gloss lacquer finish.

Description:  This unique, museum piece piano was built in New York in November/December 1936 and is a true example of the art of elaborate furniture design.   Hardman is a well known New York manufacturer who specialized in fine quality grand pianos and high styled vertical pianos for the finest homes in East.  Known for their cabinet designs, art cases and special edition pianos,  this model is a limited production instrument that was designed for the elegant executive New York City townhouse.  Small in stature but built like a tank,  this piano is a gem to behold. This piano was rebuilt in Long Island in the 1980’s with new strings, new tuning pins, new dampers, shimmed and bleached soundboard, new bridge caps, original action and hammers and refinished cabinet and plate. This piano was a mother’s beloved instrument that was handed down to the daughter who is now downsizing and must part with the family heirloom. It is very rare and not likely to be seen again as most of the production is still kept closely guarded by discriminating families or was destroyed at the end of its life.