List of Keyboards 

A standard square piano with the usual English square-piano escapement action. Compass FF-c4 (5+ octaves; 68 notes); ivory naturals with maple molding in front, ebony sharps; one pedal to raise the dampers. Bichord stringing throughout. Mahogany case with geometrical stringing; gilt cast-metal leaf-and-dart molding at the lower edge; nameboard veneered in satinwood with a gold circle for the inscription, surrounded by leaves and berries in gold and black; typical fretwork in the nameboard and in the triangular area behind the wrest plank; three drawers with evidently non-original lion-head pulls; six reeded screw-on legs with gilt metal collars and brass casters; gilt metal rosettes on the blocks over the legs; folding music rack on back of the nameboard.

This is the earliest known spinet made in America and the only instrument known by Johannes Gottlob Clemm. Its bent side, of solid wood rather than veneered, suggests the influence of continental rather than English spinet design. Of eighteenth-century date, the stand is apparently original to the spinet. Credit: Met Museum

François Berden & Cie was a major Belgian piano manufacturer based in Brussels. The company was founded in 1836 when banker François Berden took over and reorganized the former piano firm of Herman Lichtenthal, later working with his nephew François-Hubert Berden.

The firm achieved considerable success and won awards at major exhibitions:

• 1841 Belgian National Exposition – two grand pianos received prizes.

• 1844 Belgian National Exposition – awarded a gold medal for a transposing piano and four triple-strung pianos.

• 1851 Great Exhibition, London – received an honourable mention for a rosewood cabinet piano.

Berden produced a wide range of instruments, including:

• Grand pianos

• Vertical upright pianos

• Oblique and semi-oblique upright pianos

The company expanded steadily:

• 1840: moved to 72 Rue Royale, Brussels

• 1855: opened a factory at 32 Boulevard de Waterloo

• 1864: moved its factory to 42 Rue Keyenveld

Around 1864, François-Hubert Berden (1818–1874) became director. Following his death in 1874, the company was dissolved and taken over by Alfred and Othon Campo, who reorganized the business and continued trading under the name Berden & Cie.

Significance: Berden & Cie was one of the most successful Belgian piano makers of the mid-19th century, earning international recognition and producing a diverse range of piano designs.

Photo Credit: Daderot Wikicommons

Painted wooden harpsichord with a built-in spinet. The harpsichord’s two manuals are located on the narrow side, each spanning four octaves plus a minor second. The upper manual controls two sets of strings; the lower, three. It has no stops. The natural keys are faced with ivory, and the accidentals are made of ebony. The spinet is positioned along the long side and features a single manual spanning four octaves; the natural keys are ivory, and the accidentals are ebony. The instrument has a rectangular case. The soundboard is decorated with flowers, butterflies, birds, and two gilded rosettes bearing the inscription "1734". The inscription "IOANNES IOSEPHUS COENEN PRESBYTER ET ORGANISTA CATHEDRALIS ME FECIT" appears on the nameboard above the harpsichord manuals, while "RURAEMONDAE A° 1735" is inscribed on the nameboard of the spinet. The exterior of the case is made of black-painted wood. The exterior of the lid is also black-painted wood, featuring a delicate, Moorish-style border. The interior of the lid depicts Saint Cecilia making music, accompanied by four angels, set against a landscape background. The stand consists of eight baluster legs.

Photo Credit: Mr.Nostalgic Wikicommons

This square piano was made by Collard & Collard in London, England around 1835. Brothers, Frederick William and William Frederick formed the company in 1832 after their involvement in various partnerships that published music and sold pianos and other musical instruments. This piano is serial number 1355 and has a compass of FF-f4, an English double action, felt hammers, single-strings, first 12 notes, the rest are double-strings, 1 pedal: dampers, an iron string plate frame, and a wood case

Credit: Smithsonian

This “Collard & Collard” Square Piano was manufactured in 1848 by Collard & Collard, a long-established London firm that was closely associated with the composer and virtuoso pianist Muzio Clementi. The company produced many superb instruments in the 19th century, which were signed and stamped variously as “Clementi & Co” in 1800, “Clementi, Collard & Collard” in 1819, and after Clementi’s death in 1832, “Collard & Collard”.

Credit: © Min-On Music Museum

A mid 19th-century English square piano in mahogany. Compass: FF to g4, 75 notes. The action is the usual English ‘double action’ with the addition of a check as found in grand actions. This feature was introduced by Broadwood in the 1830s. Interestingly this makes an action more closely resembling in concept Cristofori’s second action than does any other piano action. The hammers are felted instead of the earlier use of leather.

Credit: Royal College of Music