Upright (Giraffe) Piano

This type of piano is known as a "giraffe piano," which has an assymetrical case that is shaped to the length of the strings of a piano from the longest bass strings to the shortest treble strings. It was but one type of case developed by piano makers in the early nineteenth century, during an innovative period of piano design. A wide variety of upright pianos were developed that included among others so-called pyramid pianos and lyre pianos.

Technical description: Case of mahogany veneer, silk panel dovering the soundboard; The case, including the silk panel, has multiple gilt bronze ormolu plates of classical mofis and scenes. The sides of the instrument are decorated with panels of decorated laid papers that are decorated with a mixture of printed elements and gouache painting. The decorative elements include classical subjects, symbols, and musical instruemnts. The papers are in excellent condition and protected behind panes of glass. To either side of the keyboard, on the front of the fallboard, as well as on the front of the silk panel are inlaid pieces of ivory on top of which are mounted gilt ormolu decorations. The keybed is supported at both ends by cast bronze satyrs. The wood panel below the keyboard is decorated also decorated with gilt bronze ormolu decorations. The glass panels, inlaid ivory, and bronze ormolu are probably not original to the manufacture of the piano, but were early additions that keep to the style of the piece. The name Pape on the ivory name plate is probably not original.

The action is the German Hangede action with hammers and tuning pins below the keyboard. The action and the felt hammers are original to the instrument. The piano has two pedals, but originally had six.The pedal farthest to the right controls the damper and the other is an una corde that shifts the keyboard to strike only one string. One of the pedals that was removed activated a "janissary" or drum stop. The drum mallet is still located within the instrument. The keyboard has ivory veneered natural keys and ebony block accidentals. The compass is FF-f4.