Square Piano
Medium
Mahogany veneer, boxwood, iron, brass, ivory, ebony, and various materials
Dimensions
Case length (perpendicular to keyboard): 57.3 cm (22 5/8 in.) Width (parallel to keyboard): 162.9 cm (64 1/8 in.) Depth (without lid): 22.0 cm (8 3/4 in.) Total height: 86.3 cm (34 in.) Stand with 4 square, tapered legs supporting a shelf and a central damper pedal - Measurements: H. 25 in. W. 64 in. D ~22 1/2 in.
Classification
Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
Culture
British
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry and Virginia Pleasants, 1982
Accession Number
1982.76
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This elegant square piano, crafted by the renowned British firm John Broadwood & Sons in 1797, exemplifies the refined instrument-making of Georgian-era London. Measuring about 64 inches wide and standing 34 inches tall on its four square, tapered legs, it features mahogany-veneered case inlaid with boxwood, keys, ebony accents, and brass and iron mechanisms. The compact, rectangular "square" design—perpendicular to the keyboard only 22.5 inches deep—made it ideal for domestic music-making in middle- and upper-class homes, bridging the harpsichord and modern piano eras. Broadwood & Sons, pioneers in piano development, contributed to the instrument's evolution with innovations like the central damper pedal on the stand, allowing sustained tones for expressive playing. Classified as a chordophone-zither-struck (piano), its construction highlights 18th-century woodworking and metallurgy, with luxurious materials underscoring its status as both functional art and social emblem. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1982 by Henry and Virginia Pleasants, this piece offers a tangible link to the Romantic stirrings of classical music, evoking intimate soirées where amateur musicians performed Haydn or early Beethoven.