English square pianoforte
Object No. H5300
Square pianoforte, Longman & Broderip, London, 1782-1798.
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Summary
Physical Description
Square pianoforte, Longman & Broderip, London, 1782-1798. Five octave compass (FF-f'''); single action; stringing bichord throughout with seven lowest notes gimped; strings individually hitched at back of case and run to wrestpins on right; inside case on left are three brass and steel hand levers to operate bass damper, treble damper and sourdine or lute bar; hammers have at some time been re-covered in felt, the original material having been leather. Mahogany case with boxwood and hardwood banding; kingwood crossbanding around keyboard; nameboard features inlaid boxwood label; interior has pine frame and soundboard surrounded by mahogany moulding; ebony and ivory keys with boxwood mouldings on white key fronts; separate mahogany stand with four slender, tapered square legs and brass capping castors.
DIMENSIONS
Height
800 mm
Width
1370 mm
Depth
495 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Longman and Broderip are regarded as wholesalers and retailers rather than makers and it is assumed pianos bearing their name were made for them by other London based piano makers. This is also suggested by the variety of musical instruments that also bear their name such as woodwind and brass instruments as well as published music.
HISTORY
Notes
James Longman, one of the partners of Longman & Broderip originally traded under the name of J. Longman & Co from about 1767. In 1769 he went into partnership with a Mr Lukey and then in 1775 they were joined by Francis Broderip. From 1776 the company was known as Longman and Broderip until the company went bankrupt in 1798 and the partners went their seperate ways and formed firms with other individuals. Notably, Longman's son John went into partnership with piano virtuoso and composer Muzio Clementi. The addition of the second address on this instrument, "13 Haymarket" would suggest a date from 1782 or later, according to Martha Novak Clinkscale in Makers of the Piano 1700-1820 (OUP, 1993, p,182).
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1954
Acquisition Date
16 June 1954
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