List of Keyboards
Upright Piano by Lichtenthal, H
In 1830, Herman Lichtenthal successfully presents his upright piano at the 3rd ‘Exposition générale à Bruxelles’. During his career he acquired different brevets, which resulted in him becoming the biggest piano builder in the country. The ingenious Lichtenthal invents the “tape-check action”. In this upright action a fine leather strip pulls the hammer. This way the hammer doesn’t bounce back on the strings after being hit. A lot of piano makers copy this idea. Today the upright pianos are still equipped with tape-check.
Technical data:
Inscription: Lichtenthal & Cie à Bruxelles
Compass: 6 octaves (FF-f'''')
Keyboard: naturals in ivory, sharps in ebère
Pedals: 2: una corda - forte
Dimensions: W 118 cm / D 59 cm / H 114 cm
Case: rosewood
Serial number: 64 (1)
Chris Maene Collection number: CM 64 215
Location: 1 - Museum "Piano's Maene" Brussels
Grand Piano by Lichtenthal, H
Herman Lichtenthal is a fine example of a Belgian piano maker with foreign roots. He was born in Silezia (Poland) and came to Brussels in 1828. From 1841 he was active in Sint Petersburg. This extraordinary grand piano shows his knowledge of the international piano making. Its length is based on the ‘Pocket Grand’ from Wornum in London. Exceptional is the fine layer of mahogany wood on the soundboard. This to the example of Pleyel in Paris, who patented this idea in 1830.
Technical data:
Inscription: H. Lichtenthal Facteur du Roi Bruxelles
Compass: 6 octaves (CC-c'''')
Keyboard: naturals in ivory, sharps in ebony
Pedals: 2: una corda - forte
Dimensions: L 163 cm / W 118 cm
Case: speckled mahogany
Serial number: 371
Literature: VANDERVELLEN, P. "Le pianoforte dans les provinces belges (1761-1851)", page 182
Chris Maene Collection number: CM 62 334
Location: 1 - Museum "Piano's Maene" Brussels