On The Square

Steinways Handmade, High Quality Piano

By Bidsquare

Apr 14,2016 | 11:00 EDT

As one of the world’s most notable classical pianists, and the youngest pianist who won the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition, Yundi Li never hid his preference for Steinway pianos. He once said, “I only perform with Steinway pianos.” It is no surprise that many famous pianists choose Steinway because of its fine quality.

Pianist Yundi Li and Steinway & Sons piano at his concert

Steinway & Sons, more commonly known as Steinway, is an American and German piano company. German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg founded the company in 1853 in Manhattan. By the time Steinweg created the company he had already built 482 pianos. The first piano produced by the company, number 483, was sold to a New York family for $500.

Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg

The 100,000th Steinway Piano was built for President Theodore Roosevelt intended for the East Room of the White House. It is gilded with gold leaf with a painting on the lid, America Receiving the Nine Muses depicting 10 women in pink, mauve and gray centennial revival style ball gowns against a vivid green background. Carved on the legs are American Eagles. The piano was valued at $7,500 and given to the nation in 1903. The piano was donated to the Smithsonian when a new Steinway replaced it during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today the historic Gold Steinway stands in the First Ladies Hall of the National Museum of American History.

The White House Piano made in 1903 now resides in the First Ladies Hall of the National Museum of American History

As one prominent concert piano company, Steinway is known for making pianos of high quality and for inventions within the area of piano development. In an age of mass production, Steinway continues to produce a limited number of handmade pianos.

Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery showcases the sophistication and the high quality of Steinway at auction this month in its Nine Luxury Estates at Auction beginning April 17.

Lot 718 is an art cased Louis XVI style baby grand piano with inlaid satinwood and accented with finely chiseled bronze mounts.

Steinway & Sons art cased Louis XVI style baby grand piano in Great Gatsbys April 17 auction

Also from Great Gatsby’s, a rare 19th century Steinway Model ‘C’ art case piano decorated with a Rococo revival case. The top and sides are embellished with hand painted cartouches depicting Venetian scenes surrounded by gilt scrollwork. Above a carved anthemion frieze there is a base composed of four high scrollwork and floral swags.