Detail View: The AMICA Library: Grand Piano

AMICA ID: 
MMA_.1982.138
AMICA Library Year: 
2000
Object Type: 
Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
Creator Name: 
Böhm, Joseph
Creator Role: 
Maker
Creator Name-CRT: 
Made by Joseph Böhm
Title: 
Grand Piano
Title Type: 
Object name
View: 
Full View
Creation Date: 
ca 1815-20
Creation Start Date: 
1815
Creation End Date: 
1820
Materials and Techniques: 
Wood, various materials
Classification Term: 
Chordophone without neck/struck
Classification Term: 
Piano
Dimensions: 
L. 88 in. (223.4 cm); W. 49 3/4 in. (126.4 cm); D. of 12 5/8 in. (32 cm); H. 36 7/8 in. (93.7 cm); 3-octave span 18 3/4 in. (47.7 cm); sounding L. f45.5 striking 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); c2 27.0 striking 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); FF 173.2 striking 6 1/2 in. (16.6 cm)
AMICA Contributor: 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Owner Location: 
New York, New York, USA
ID Number: 
1982.138
Credit Line: 
Purchase, Rogers Fund; Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher M. Brown III, Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Hess, Carroll Music Instrument Service Corp., The New York Flute Club, Inc. and Piano Technicians' Guild Gifts; Gifts of Mrs. Etta M. Helmer, Alice Getty, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wellman, Mr. And Mrs. Peter M.F. Sichel, Craig E. Steese, Mrs. Etta Hilda Katz, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Travis and The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, by exchange; and funds from various donors, 1982.
Rights: 
Context: 

Napoleon's second wife, Marie Louise, is believed to have owned this grand piano while she was grand duchess of Parma. The exotic elm veneer is enriched by mercury-gilt mounts depicting grapevines, acanthus, and Psyche at a tripod brazier; imperial eagles crown the legs and nameplate. The original griffin-shaped pedal support was lost during World War II. A six-octave range was customary during Beethoven's later years. Joseph Böhm, the builder of this sumptuous piano, was a member of Vienna's civic keyboard-maker's association.

Related Image Identifier Link: 
MMA_.mi1982.138.R.tif