Sewing Box Piano

Sewing Box Piano

Lid expertly inlaid with boxwood depictions of musical instruments, birds, flowers, fruit, and leaves. Hitch pins to the left attached to a brass cut. Tuning pins located right behind keys. One string to each note, with the 12 top notes bi-chord. Strings all steel, except for bottom two notes (brass?). No double winding, single winding strings. Action conforms with Viennese style. Dampers attached to its own cut, above the strings covering all keys except 14 top notes. The keys are small and short (naturals: 8.3cm x 2cm; flats: 4.5cm x 0.6cm). Total keyboard width is 60cm. Large iron brace connecting metal hitch pin board to tuning pin board right between where the dampers end and the bi-chord strings begin. There is a genouillere (knee lever) located beneath the left end of the box for operating the damper system.

A shallow tray above the diagonal strings holds spools for thread and compartments for sewing materials and is lined with purple velvet; another removable tray rests above the keys, and a mirror hinges inside the lid. The instrument also has an unusual pedestal design, which evokes bamboo imagery.

1830

10/26/19 11:45

--"Square 'Work Box' Piano." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2019. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/501775
--M'Elroy, A. Philadelphia Directory. Philadelphia: Isaac Ashmead & Co., Dec 31, 1839.

Purchased by Bishop James Henry Darlington around 1890 from William Emko of Thos Matthews & Co., Auctioneers University Place & 10th Street. Was imported to the U.S. and sold in Philadelphia at S. Hart & Son Fancy Store.

Possibly Vienna

Unknown

Length 77.5 cm; Width 47 cm; Height 79.5 cm; Depth 29 cm

Four octaves; F-f3; 49 keys

Keyboard

Inside central box of sewing compartment: “Imported & Sold by S. HART & SON // Wholesale and Retail // PORTABLE DESK & DRESSING CASE // Warehouse Fancy Stationery, Imported Perfumery & FANCY STORE // No 120 Chestnut St. below 4th // PHILADELPHIA”. Right behind each tuning pin: Stamped into tuning board are all the pitches. “X”s written next to accidentals, and "H"s for B.

The wood is warped and expanded, not allowing the nameboard to be slid out. Some cracks on some of the ivory key fronts. Large crack in wood on inside of lid and outside of lid.

Unknown

Karl Rabe

MC, KH, SR

Darlington Collection

Mahogany (hammers & kapsel support blocks), spruce veneered with Brazilian rosewood (case and stand), lime (keyboard), spruce (keyframe), oak (balance rail), ferrous metal (pins), ivory (naturals), rosewood veneered with ebony (sharps), boxwood (keyfronts), brass & steel (strings). [See Burr Conservation report for more details]

Vassar Treasure Room

Walter Burr received the instrument in 1989 to repair the stand, accessories, bridge, damaged lid corner, nameboard, and case veneer. There may have been a restoration prior to Burr's. There are inconsistent hammer coverings and the instrument lacks most of its original hand-made screws. In addition, there has been a replacement of felts, refinishing of the stand, fallboard, and the compartment's rosewood lids.