Broadwood Upright

When the name Broadwood is mentioned, most people immediately think of elegant grand pianos played by the great composers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Yet the renowned London firm also produced a small number of upright pianos, reflecting changing musical tastes and the growing demand for more practical instruments in the home.

By the early nineteenth century, upright pianos were becoming increasingly popular. They occupied far less floor space than grand or square pianos, making them ideal for the drawing rooms of expanding middle-class households. Although several makers, including Robert Wornum, pioneered new upright designs, John Broadwood & Sons approached the new form with characteristic caution, favouring quality and reliability over rapid innovation.

Broadwood's upright pianos retained the firm's reputation for fine craftsmanship. Built from beautifully figured mahogany or rosewood, they featured elegant classical styling, robust construction and the rich, singing tone for which Broadwood instruments were admired. Many employed the same high standards of action design and stringing that had made the firm's grand pianos famous throughout Europe.

Unlike the towering "cabinet pianos" of the early nineteenth century, Broadwood's later uprights gradually adopted lower, more practical forms that blended harmoniously with Victorian domestic interiors. As musical life shifted increasingly into the family home, the upright piano became the instrument through which generations learned to play, accompanied songs and entertained guests.

Today, surviving Broadwood upright pianos are less common than the firm's celebrated grands and squares, making them particularly significant. They represent an important chapter in the evolution of piano design, illustrating how one of Britain's greatest piano manufacturers adapted to changing fashions while maintaining its commitment to craftsmanship and musical excellence.

Although often overshadowed by the company's magnificent concert grands, Broadwood's upright pianos tell an equally important story: one of innovation balanced with tradition, bringing the quality of one of London's finest piano makers into homes where music formed the heart of everyday life.

Credit: https://www.chrismaenecollection.be/en/catalog/john-broadwood-sons-cabinet-piano/54/