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John Broadwood and Son 1799

Description

Date:

1799

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Origin:

London

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Serialnumber:

5200

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The square piano played a central role in late 18^th-century England, both in the musical life of the bourgeois and aristocratic societies and in the history of piano development. As a transitional form between traditional keyboard instruments of the Baroque era, such as the harpsichord and clavichord, and the modern piano we know today, the square piano was an important part of the musical culture and a pivotal tool in the evolution of the piano as an instrument.

In the late 18^th century, music was an essential element of education and cultural life in England, especially for the affluent middle class. The square piano became the preferred instrument of the middle and upper-middle classes. Smaller and more affordable than the grand piano or harpsichord, it increasingly found a place in bourgeois households. Piano music was primarily learned by women, as it was considered an indispensable skill for social education and cultural participation. As an accessible yet respected instrument, the square piano was ideal for domestic music-making, serving not only as a tool for musical education but also as an instrument for private concerts, where families and guests gathered to enjoy music.

One example of such an instrument is this square piano built in 1799 by the renowned company John Broadwood and Son. A similar instrument from the same year is also part of the Eric Feller Collection (click here for further information).

The case of this instrument is made of mahogany with surrounding inlays of various woods. The piano rests on a “French stand” with four brass castors and features an integrated “music shelf” underneath. Round brass appliqués cover the screws of the stand on either side.

The natural keys are covered with ivory, and the sharps are made of ebony. The nameboard is crafted from different woods and is signed in a cartouche with the following inscription:

“John Broadwood and Son.

Makers to his Majesty and the Princesses

Great Pulteney Street London Golden Square.”

The instrument includes a damper lift and is double-strung. The action is a simple single action with leathered hammers and Broadwood’s characteristic underdampers, a mechanism patented by John Broadwood in 1783.

Square Piano by John Broadwood and Son, London 1799 – Serial number – Eric Feller Collection

Interestingly, the date on this square piano has been overpainted. This practice was common in the early 19^th century due to a thriving market for used instruments, where demand for “new and modern pianos” was high. Used instruments were more affordable than new ones, and sellers sometimes removed or altered the manufacturing date to make the instrument appear newer, thus fetching a higher price. Another example of this practice is a square piano by Ferdinand Weber of Dublin, also part of the Eric Feller Collection (click here for more information on the instrument – Ferdinand Weber, Dublin, circa 1775).

John Broadwood was born on October 6, 1732, in Oldhamstocks near Cockburnspath, Scotland. Like his father, he trained as a cabinetmaker. In 1761, he began working for Burkat Shudi (1702 – 1773) in London and became his business partner in 1770. In 1771, Broadwood established his own workshop on Great Pulteney Street in London.

John Broadwood married Shudi’s daughter, Barbara, in 1769 and had four children with her. After Barbara’s early death in 1776, he married Mary Kitson in 1781, with whom he had six more children. John Broadwood passed away on July 17, 1812, in London.

Other Surviving 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
• 1795 square piano (No. 2844), Richard Burnett Collection, Finchcocks, Goudhurst, UK