Square Piano by Erard

This square piano was made by Erard Frères in Paris, France in 1799. Sébastien Erard came from Strasbourg to Paris in 1781 and received a license to build musical instruments four years later. He entered a partnership with his brother Jean-Baptiste in 1788. This piano is serial number 4071 and has a compass of FF-c4, an Erard “à double pilotes” action, leather hammers, triple-strings throughout, with tuning pins on right, 3 knee levers: moderator, dampers, and nag’s head swell, wood frame, and a cherry case

Credit: Smithsonian