SCHIEDMAYER GRAND PIANO
Cabinet features oriental scenes in embossed Japanning with gilt ornament
An 1899, Chinese Chippendale style, Schiedmayer grand piano for sale with a stunning, flame mahogany case and Malborough legs with applied fret carvings. Cabinet features oriental scenes in embossed Japanning with gilt ornament.
The pierced, filigree music desk is in a scrolling, arabesque design with stylised flowers and a central lyre with gilt accents. The two-pedal, square lyre mimics the piano legs with applied fret carvings and classical meander ornament and rinceaux in gilt detail. The serpentine piano cheek features an oriental scene in embossed Japanning. Beneath the bows of a tree, beside a pagoda, a female figure stretches out her hand towards a seated man, fanning himself as a swallow flies overhead. The oriental scenes depicted in fine gold ornament are mainly rural settings with figures reclining with fans or musical instruments beneath trees. Deer, birds, butterflies and peacocks also star.
Click to enlarge
Price: £POA
Piano Details
- Ref: 2581
- Brand: Schiedmayer
- Serial Number: 30408
- Age: 1899
- Wood: Flame Mahogany
- Finish: Polished
- Size [cm]: length: 194 width: 150
Thomas Chippendale
Chippendale designs fall into three main styles: Gothic, Rococo, and Chinese. Chippendale blended these disparate stylistic elements into harmonious and unified designs. The Chinese Chippendale designs in 'The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director' were applied to furniture and featured fretwork designs, a pagoda-style pediments and fretwork galleries around the edges of surfaces. Some pieces of Chinese Chippendale furniture were japanned, or coated with oriental-style lacquer.
Japanning
Japanning is a type of finish that originated as a European imitation of Asian lacquerwork. It was first used on furniture, but was later much used on small items in metal. The word originated in the 17th century. Japanning is most often a heavy black "lacquer", almost like enamel paint. Black is common and japanning is often assumed to be synonymous with black japanning. The European technique uses varnishes that have a resin base, similar to shellac, applied in heat-dried layers which are then polished, to give a smooth glossy finish. It can also come in reds, greens and blues.
