List of Keyboards 

Photo Credit: Piano Technicians Guild

Johann Heinrich Pape/ Henri Pape was born in Starstedt, Germany in 1789. In 1811, he settled in Paris. After working for Pleyel, he founded his own piano factory in 1815. All his life he experimented with the design and functioning of pianos. He made 137 inventions. In 1826 he invented the cross-strung system to fit longer strings in his pianinos and in 1828 he replaced the leather of the hammer heads with prepared felt. From 1827 on, he exclusively applied the down-striking system for his square pianos and grands. Because the corpus was very low and the keyboard and action were on top, he was able to design this exceptional model. Consequently, this grand is extremely rare.

Technical data:

• Inscription: PAPE, à PARIS, Médaille d'or décernée par le jury de 1834.

• Compass: 6 octaves and 7 notes (CCC-g'''')

• Keyboard: naturals in ivory, sharps in ebony

• Pedals: 2: controlling action shift and dampers

• Dimensions: L 208 cm / W 128 cm

• Case: rosewood hand polished

• Chris Maene Collection number: CM 42 252

• Condition: original optical restoration

• Location: 2 - Museum "Chris Maene Collection" Ruiselede

Photo Credit: Louislegrand14

In 1834, Pape  won a gold medal for this kind of design. The strings are at the bottom of the cabinet, where a solid construction coping with the tension of the strings was implemented. the action is on top of the strings and slams downwards. His instruments were true pieces of art in design and furniture. An inscription on the instrument tells us this piano was once a wedding gift.

Technical data:

• Inscription: PAPE A PARIS

• Compass: 6,5 octaves (CC-f''')

• Keyboard: naturals in ivory, sharps in ebony

• Pedals: 2: controlling dampers - moderator

• Dimensions: W 186 cm / D 85 cm

• Case: weathered birch

• Chris Maene Collection number: CM 46 133

• Condition: original

• Location: 2 - Museum "Chris Maene Collection" Ruiselede