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Collard & Collard c. 1843

Description

Date:

1843

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Origin:

London

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Serialnumber:

45423

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The company Collard & Collard was one of the leading piano manufacturers in England in the 19^th century and was founded in 1832 by the two brothers Frederick William and William Frederick Collard. Both had previously been in partnership with the composer and piano maker Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) and other partners.

Frederick William Collard by Charles Turner, after James Lonsdale – National Portrait Gallery London

The case of this elegant instrument is made of walnut with elaborate carvings on the sides and the three legs. Two wooden applications for closing the lid are attached around the case. The music stand is elaborately decorated and covered with light green silk on the back. The keyboard is made of ivory and ebony, the hammers are covered with felt, double strung and the instrument has got single dampers. The lyre has two wooden pedals for controlling the dampers and una corda. The keyboard range is 6 octaves plus two tones (FF – g4).

Hammerflügel Collard & Collard, London c. 1843 – serial number  – Eric Feller Collection

The serial number (45423) is written in ink on the left side of the pin block. There is also a signature that the fortepiano was sold in Leeds. The nameboard bears the inscription:

“Patent Repeater

Collard & Collard

late

Clementi, Collard & Collard

London”

Hammerflügel Collard & Collard, London c. 1843 – Eric Feller Collection (2)

The instrument has a metal plate and three metal bars inside. Overall, this fortepiano impresses with its extremely precise manufacture, the elegant appearance and the very dark sound. Collard & Collard had various instruments on offer. Grand and square pianos were available in mahogany, rosewood, and walnut. At that time, they also offered different sizes in terms of length and number of octaves. The company continued to produced instruments till the early 20^th century, but was sold to the Chappell Piano Company of London in 1929. The Collard & Collard name lasted until about 1960. Unfortunately, a fire in 1963 destroyed all of Collard and Clementi’s recordings, which became the property of Chappell Pianos when the company took over in 1929. This makes it extremely difficult today to accurately date the surviving instruments.

For detailed information on the history of Collard & Collard click here!

Hammerflügel Collard & Collard, London c. 1843 – Eric Feller Collection (7)

Other surviving instruments by Collard & Collard:

• 1840 Grand Fortepiano (No. 42573) – Thomas Strange, Easley USA
• 1840 Grand Fortepiano (No. 41978) – formerly Richard Burnett Collection, Finchcocks Musical Museum, England