Giraffe Piano by Seuffert, M

This upright piano was made by Martin Seuffert in Vienna, Austria around 1812, It is a grand piano standing on its head, with the right side of the case following the usual shape of a grand. The scroll at the top reminded people of a giraffe, and the word became a technical term for this type of piano. This is a style that was favored in Germany and Austria. All of Seuffert’s known extant pianos are giraffes. This piano has a compass of FF-f4, hanging Viennese action, leather hammers, double-strings FF-d#, triple-strings e-f4, 2 pedals: dampers and keyboard shift, wood frame, and wood case with a silk front panel and a decorated lower panel

Credit: Smithsonian