Square Piano (Pantalon) by Hoffman, J
Maker:
Hoffman, J
Number of manuals:
One
Year:
1790
Museum:
National Museum of American History
Date Range
1750-1800
Current Location:
North America
Material:
Oak
Painter:
Pedals:
Two
Catalogue Number:
CEP-1706
Origin:
Germany
Type:
Square Piano (Pantalon)
This piano was made by Johann Friedrich Hoffman in Cleve, Germany in the 1790s. This very unusual predecessor to the fortepiano was called a “pantalon” because of its two sets of hammers. The bare hammers would have been used to play loud passages and the leather-covered hammers for soft passages. This piano has a compass of FF-g3, simple jack action without escapement, 2 sets of hammers, one leather-covered and the other bare wood, double-strings throughout with tuning pins on right, 1 hand stop: changes hammer set, 2 pedals: bass dampers and treble dampers, wood frame, and an oak case
Credit: Smithsonian