Upright Piano by Lichtenthal, H
Maker:
Lichtenthal, H
Year:
c.1830
Museum:
Museum of Musical Instruments Belgium
Date Range
1800-1850
Current Location:
[object Object]
Material:
Painter:
Type:
Upright Piano
Hermann (Herman) Lichtenthal was a piano maker born in Silesia who worked primarily in Brussels before later moving to St Petersburg.
He established a piano workshop at 27 Boulevard de Waterloo, Brussels, in 1823 and remained there until about 1836, when his business was taken over and reorganized by François Berden, forming the basis of the later firm Berden & Cie.
Lichtenthal was known for his inventive designs and obtained several Belgian patents, including:
A piano-viole (a hybrid instrument).
The unusual "piano à niche de chien" ("dog-kennel piano").
The piano à niche de chien was a small upright or obliquely strung pianino with a 6½-octave keyboard. It featured a distinctive opening in the lower case to allow the player's feet to fit underneath, with the pedals mounted on either side of the opening.
Significance: Lichtenthal was an innovative early Belgian piano maker whose experimental designs and patents contributed to the development of piano manufacture in Brussels during the early nineteenth century. His workshop later evolved into the successful firm of Berden & Cie.
Photo Credit: Daderot Wikicommons