ALL ABOUT ROYALTIES' PIANOS. Instruments Worth Their Weight in Gold.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 50

ALL ABOUT ROYALTIES' PIANOS. Instruments Worth Their Weight in Gold.

Her Majesty the Queen is the proud possessor of no fewer than 100 pianos, many of them of exquisite beauty, and, of course, correspondingly costly. Perhaps one of the finest of them all is the magnificent grand now standing in the White drawing room at Buckingham Palace. The Verms Martin decorations on the case of this beautiful instrument were originally painted upon a harpsichord belonging to Anne of Austria, whence they were transferred by skilful and trustworthy workmen. It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to say that this was a work of extreme delicacy.

Indeed, her Majesty for som« time refused her permission to have it undertaken, and it was only on receiving absolute assurance that it could be Bafely done that she gave in, and allowed the work to be commenced. It was this piano that attracted so much attention at the Inventions Exhibition in ISSS.

Another famous piano belonging to her Majesty is kept at Osborne House. This is also a grand, and the case is made entirely of ivory. The top of the instrument is all in one piece, and without flaw or blemish. It is valued at 2000gs.

An exceedingly beautiful instrument was that made foiTthe Duchess of York on her wedding. It was of satinwood, richly inlaid and ornamented with ormolu, and was a gift from the members of the Ballad Singers' Club, of which the Dake of Teck is president. Ifc was exhibited at the Imperial Institute with the other presents, and will donbtless be remembered by many of the readers of this article.

Bat what is claimed by the owners to be the most valuable piano in the world rests in Messrs Erard's showrooms in Great Marlborough street. It was made in 1808 by Mr Sebastian Erard, the founder of the firm, to

the order of Napoleon Buonaparte, and was by him presented to the Empress Josephine. At the Backing of the Tuileries that followed the disaster of Sedan, it was stolen by one of the mob, and afterwards put up for auction at the Hotel Druot (the Christie of Paris). It was purchased by a representative of the Erards' Paris house, and thence transferred to their London establishment.

The case of this wonderful example of the pianoforte- maker's skill is pf the finest rosewood, richly ornamented with ormolu. The keys are of mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell, and the inside of the lid is elegantly enamelled. It has five pedal?, one of which works a drum and triangle attachment. Napoleon was nothing if not military.

Oae of the most curious pianos ever manufactured was made to the order of the late Emperor of Morocco. It had to be made in parts, each small enough to be carried by a slave, as his Highness absolutely refused to trust them to the care of his camels, which formed the only other available method of transport. This instrument was an exceedingly costly affair, being manufactured principally of orris and tulip woods, inlaid with unpolished jacaranda parquetry, and decorated with scrollwork of pure gold. The actual sum paid for it was £3000. It will doubtless surprise many people to learn that very few high-claes pianos are now made of walnut. Orris-wood (which gives forth a delicious perfume), citron, acacia, tulip, and "purple wood" are among the most fashionable materials just at present. Two comparatively Eew woods, known respectively as " bois de rose " and " bois de violette," are also beginning to find favour.

On the other hand, maDy people prefer the good old-fashioned woods of our forefathers. One of the last pianos made for H R.H. the Prince of Wales, for instance, was built; entirely of ebony inlaid with ivory.