Ruckers inspired Steinway

The magnificent Steinway grand piano at the American Cathedral in Paris is closely associated with the American composer Cole Porter, although it originally belonged to his close friend, Howard Sturges. Built in Hamburg in 1906 (serial number 121776), the instrument left the Steinway factory as a conventional ebony grand before being transformed in Paris into an extraordinary work of decorative art. Its lavish case, inspired by a seventeenth-century Flemish harpsichord by Johannes Ruckers at the Palace of Versailles, features elaborate painted decoration and distinctive Louis XIV-style legs, making it one of the most visually remarkable Steinway pianos ever created.

Howard Sturges lived near Cole Porter on Rue Monsieur in Paris's 7th arrondissement, and the two friends frequently entertained artists, musicians and writers in the city's vibrant expatriate community during the 1920s. Although no documentary evidence confirms exactly which works Porter composed on this instrument, it is widely believed that he played it regularly during his visits to Sturges' apartment. Following Sturges' death in the 1950s, the piano was donated to the American Cathedral in Paris, where it has remained ever since. Carefully maintained while preserving its remarkable historic decoration, the instrument stands today not only as a rare example of Steinway craftsmanship but also as a tangible reminder of the glamorous artistic world that surrounded Cole Porter during his Paris years.

Picture thanks to Bill Toynbee who informed us about this magnificent instrument