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John Broadwood and Son 1807

Description

Date:

1807

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Origin:

London

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Serialnumber:

10567

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The company of John Broadwood was one of the most prolific piano manufacturers in England in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries. Due to the partly industrial production large quantities have been achieved. However, the quantity did not affect the quality of the instruments and so the excellent reputation of the instruments has been always confirmed and kept till today.

The case of the instrument is made of mahogany with revolving band inlays in different woods and it stands on 6 legs. The keyboard is made from ivory and ebony and there is a pedal for controlling the dampers. It as a double action with leather covered hammers and single dampers. The instrument is double strung and above the action is the original dust-cover, which is covered with blue fabric.

The nameboard is made in different woods and signed in an oval with:

„1807

John Broadwood and Son.

Makers to his Majesty

and the Princesses

Great Pulteney Street Golden Square

London.”

The signature John Broadwood and Son shows still clearly the period in which only the eldest son James Broadwood worked in the company of his father. The second son Thomas did not join the company until 1808. After this all instruments were signed with John Broadwood and Sons.

On the wrestplank is the handwritten serial number: 10567. The case of the instrument is structurally similar to the square piano made in 1800 (Square Piano by John Broadwood & Son 1800 – click here), but features the more modern double action, like the instrument of 1814 in the Eric Feller Collection (Square Piano by John Broadwood & Sons 1814 – click here).

John Broadwood was born on 6^th October 1732 in Oldhamstocks near Cockburnspath in Scotland. He learned the profession of being a cabinetmaker like his father before.

In 1761 he started working for Burkat Shudi (1702 – 1773) in London and in 1770 became his business partner. In 1771 he opened his own shop on Great Pulteney Street in London. In 1769 he married Burkat Shudi’s daughter Barbara in her first marriage and had four children with her. After his wife’s death in 1776 he married Mary Kitson in 1781 and had six children with her. He died on 17^th July 1812 in London.

Other preserved instruments by John Broadwood and Son:

• 1798 square piano (No. 4200) – National Museum of American History, Washington USA
• 1791 square piano (No. 1552) – Kenwood House, Hampstead UK
• 1807 square piano (No. 10250) – Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University, Perth

John Broadwood and Son, London 1807 – Eric Feller Collection – serial number