List of Keyboards 

Grignan (Drôme, Provence, France), the castle of the Adhémar de Monteil family, interior ; the antechamber of Marie Fontaine's private apartment. Square piano by Ignace Pleyel in 1845, mahogany veneer

Although Erard was the biggest piano manufacturer in Paris, it were the instruments of Ignace Pleyel that had the preference of Frédéric Chopin.

To compete with the concert grands from Erard, Ignace Pleyel built two concert grands with seven octaves in December 1842. The oldest remaining instrument is the piano with number 9872, dated from 1843. This instrument is classified as 'Monument Historique' in France.

In 2007 Chris Maene  was able to buy an identical instrument, but finished as an Art Case, for the Chris Maene Collection. The purchased instrument has the number 9861, also dating from 1843.

Technical data:

• Inscription: Ignace PLEYEL & Compie

• Compass: 7 octaves (AAA-a'''')

• Keyboard: naturals in ivory, sharps in ebony

• Pedals: 2: controlling keyboard shift, damping

• Dimensions: L 250 cm / W 136 cm

• Case: rosewood Art-Case

• Serial number: 9861

• Chris Maene Collection number: CM 43 230

• Condition: restored to concert level, Chris Maene workshop, Ruiselede 2020

• Location: 3 - Museum headquarters "Piano's Maene" Ruiselede

According to Pleyel's archives, the instrument was built during the autumn of 1841 and completed on New Year's Eve of that same year. It was sold that very day to Mr. Azevedo in Paris—believed to be Alexis Azevedo (1813–1875), a renowned contemporary music critic

Photoe Credit: Daderot Wikicommons

Belonged   to Chopin according to document by Delphin Alard.

Stunning Grand Piano by the well-known maker, Pleyel

Image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (CC0 Public Domain), via Rijksstudio / Rijksmuseum Collection

Foto : Sofi Sykfont

Frédéric Chopin received his Camille Pleyel piano (Serial No. 6668) in Cell No. 4 at the Royal Carthusian Monastery of Valldemossa, Majorca on January 9, 1839

Photo Credit: Gryffindor Wikicommons

Photo Credit: Min-on Museum