- Museum number
- 1983.12A
1983.12B
1983.12C - Object
- Fortepiano, by Johann Schantz, yew wood with keys of ebony and bone veneer, about 1795
- Description
- Fortepiano, Viennese, 1795-1800, of yew with gilt metal mounts, the keyboard of ebony with bone facings to the accidentals, the enamel plaque with the inscription "Johann Schantz, No 52 in Wien". Compass is five octaves and a third (FF to a3), the stringing is bichord (i.e. two strings to a note for over two octaves, the rest is trichord. Two bridges over the sounding board, two knee levers underneath the keyboard, and a bassoon knob fitted on the front fascia which applies a strip of parchment covered by silk to the lower strings.
- Materials
- Yew
- Inscription
- Enamel plaque on fascia of instrument, "Johann Schantz No 52 in Wien"
- On display?
- Yes
Further description
- Simple name
- Furniture
Furniture
Furniture - Dimensions
- regular: 220.0cm (d) x 103.6cm (h) x 88.0cm (w)
Fortepiano
Johann Schantz (1762–1828)
Yew wood with keys of ebony and bone veneer, about 1795
This instrument is one of only four fortepianos by the celebrated Viennese makers Johann and Wenzel Schantz known to survive. The composer Joseph Haydn bought a fortepiano from them in 1788 and in his letters stressed that if his music was to be played properly, it should be on a Schantz instrument.
1983.12
Acquired in 1983 with generous grants from the Victoria & Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund, the Art Fund and the Fortepiano Fund administered by the University of Bath
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