List of Keyboards
Square Piano by Astor & Horwood
This square piano was made by Astor & Horwood in London, England around 1815-1822. George Peter Astor had a successful, piano, flute, and music publishing business at 79 Cornhill in London. After his death in 1813, Astor’s wife continued the firm until 1815, when Horwood took it over, and the business became Astor & Horwood until 1824. The piano is serial number 5881 and has a compass of FF-f4, English double action, brass and iron strings, double-strung, no stops or pedals, and a wood frame in a mahogany case
Credit: Smithsonian
Square Piano by Astor
This square piano was made by Astor & Company in London, England around 1799-1815. After his apprenticeship in Germany, George Peter Astor went to London about 1778. In the late 1790s, Astor moved to 79 Cornhill in London. This address is inscribed on the nameboard. After George Astor’s death in 1813, his widow continued the firm until 1815, This piano is serial number 3243 and has a compass of FF-c4, an English double action, leather hammers, double-strings throughout, first 10 notes are wound brass, next 13 notes are brass, the rest are iron, 1 hand stop: dampers, wood frame, and a wood case
Credit: Smithsonian
Folding Harpsichord by Arkel
This is a very unusual folding harpsichord. The two smaller sections, at right and centre, are hinged and can be closed to form a single long unit which is then folded over the left-hand part.
Image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (CC0 Public Domain), via Rijksstudio / Rijksmuseum Collection.
