Giraffe Piano

Giraffe Piano

The stringing of the piano is tricord for the entirety of its compass. The tuning pins are located below the keyboard for the lowest 22 keys (FF-C#), and the tuning pins for the remaining 51 keys (D-f4) are located by the tallest part of the case.

The backside of both the upper and lower panels have pieces of wood held in place by small pieces of wood screwed into the frame in mechanism similar to what we now commonly see on the back of a picture frame.

It has a hanging Viennese (or hanging German) action type–a modified version of the Viennese action for the upright “giraffe” piano. The hammers are leathered.

There are six pedals (one is missing, and the other is filled in with a piece of wood [intentional? unsure]). If it were to follow Stein’s pedal formation, these pedals function in the following order (left to right): bassoon, raising dampers, moderator (3rd and 4th pedals), janissary (bells), and “una corda” (keyboard shift) (“Stein Upright Piano”). Speculation in Vassar documents indicate that the pedals may work in the following (left to right): N/A, raising dampers, “una corda” (keyboard shift), bassoon, janissary (bells), and drum.

The piano is made in Biedermeier style which was an influential furniture and decorative style in Germany and Austria during the second quarter of the 19th century (Raizman, 2003). As a result of this style, pianos created in this period exhibit “more variety in size, shape, number of keys, and especially ornament” (Raizman 37). Other popular styles in Germany and Austria at the time included the Pyramidenflügel and Lyraflügel in which the case above the keyboard was in the shape of a pyramid or lyra, respectively (James, 1930). The scroll at the top of the piano along with the silhouette of the case elicits the imagery of a giraffe, hence its name–the “giraffe” piano. The piano is in essence an upright, or vertical, grand piano as the case and strings are perpendicular to the ground.

c. 1820-1830

11/13/19 12:40

Clinkscale, Martha. Makers of the Piano: 1820-1860. Oxford University Press, 1999.

James, Philip. Early Keyboard Instruments. Holland Press, 1930.

“Stein Upright Piano.” National Museum of American History, https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_605946.

Raizman, David Seth. History of Modern Design: Graphics and Products Since the Industrial Revolution.
Laurence King Publishing, 2003.

“Upright (Giraffe) Piano” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/504288.

Unknown

Possibly Vienna

Most notable giraffe piano makers at the time were André Stein and Joseph Wachtl in Vienna (Clinkscale, 1999).

Length 125 cm; Width 60 cm; Height 240 cm

Six octaves; FF-f4; 73 keys

Keyboard

There is a number, “1475”, written in pencil by the tuning pins for f#1 and g1. The meaning behind this number is unknown. The notes are indicated by a small circular piece of paper glued onto the wood near each triad cluster of tuning pins (“B” notes are noted as “H”). Inscription indicating maker missing on its nameplate, and replaced by a thin rectangular piece of paper with decorations similar to those on the name board.

Serial number is 1016 stamped onto a 3cm by 1cm piece of wood (appears similar to the wood used for the tuning board) inserted into the wooden frame of the keyboard.

The instrument is overall in a poor state of preservation. In its current state, the instrument is not playable. There are strings that need to be replaced or restrung, missing hammer heads, dampers do not function properly, warped nameboard, large cracks in the soundboard. In addition, all six pedals do not function and parts for the pedal mechanism are either missing or broken. The veneer has chipped off of many locations on the instrument.

Decoration is missing on the case covering the keys. The decoration on the lower panel has detached.

A similar Giraffe Piano is kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Austrian c, 1810.

Unknown

Karl Rabe

KH, JW

Darlington Collection

The strings all appear to be made of the same material (brass/iron?). The case is mahogany, and frame is wood (unknown?). The name board is made of some type of metal. The decoration on the name board, legs, and lower panel are made of some metal (copper, brass, bronze?).

The naturals seem to be made with thin layers of bone glued to a wooden foundation. The accidentals are made of black stained wood with ebony on top.

Silk front panel and lower decorated panel replaced by red fabric (?).

Vassar Treasure Room

There is evidence of restoration as the original silk covering for the front panel and lower panel has been replaced with a red fabric type covering. In addition, one of the pedals has been replaced with a plank of wood effectively filling in the hole for the pedal.