a rare Spanish mahogany and holly inlaid upright piano, manufactured by John Broadwood and Co.,
no. 95406, model no. 8, inlaid with panels of flowers to the front and sides, the hinged top with chequer banding, with pierced strap hinges to the case, opening to reveal the interior, the panelled board stamped to the inside 'no. 95406/3', and with a pencil inscription 'Taken from Mr Watson Low's piano...Broadwood',
136cm wide
63cm deep
122cm high

Provenance: Finished on 27 February 1902 (ref. 2185/JB/42/241).

The piano was sent to the National Museum of Decorative Art in Budapest, on 14 May 1902, for the 'British Applied Arts Exhibition', September-November 1902, along with another Broadwood piano designed by Hugh Baille-Scott:

'Taking an Upt Pf in Sp Mah base, decorated (designed by CR Ashbee Esq) No.95406 + also Upt Pf in Oak base stained black N0. 95399 decorated (designed by MHB Scott Esq packed in Zinc & Deal cases, The Director of the National Museum of Decorative Art Budapest Hungary to Bishopsgate to go by GER For Buda Pesth Exhibition Mem: Pfs insured against all risks from the time they leave us until their return.' (ref. 2185/JB/42/179).

Nos 170 and 171, Broadwood John & Sons, London, W., 'Two pianinos (upright pianos). The black one is stained ebony with inlay, carved and painted reliefs. The red one has intarsia (marquetry) and rich metal mounted decoration.' Czakó, Elemér (ed.) 'Brit iparművészeti kiállítás katalogusa' Budapest, 1902. See a photograph of the listing and the front cover of the catalogue, designed by George Walton.

On its return, it was briefly hired to Messrs Whitelock and Son in Leeds, a piano dealer, and sold on hire for pre-sale approval through George Faulkner Armitage's showroom on 18 Clifford Street, London to 'C Watson Low esq, 23 Wellington Court, Albert Gate', on 2 December 1903 for £118.2.6.

'Armitage G Faulker Esq. 18 Clifford Street Bond Street. An upright Pf in Spanish Mahogany base with double folding doors panels on doors & sides relieved with Tunbridge lines & floral design special iron furniture A to A No.95406 150 Gns for £118.2.6...5% the instrument upon hire to C Watson Low Esq 23 Wellington Court, Albert Gate 'say sold'... Manxman Pf decorated to design of CR Ashbee Esq for Buda Pesth Exhn' (ref. 2185/JB/42/183).

Mr C Watson Low, then gifted the piano and the piano stool to his niece, Miss C M Low, who sent it to Broadwood and Sons, for inspection in May 1972. She was a pianist, trained at the Royal College of Music, who then used it to teach piano to children and adults up until about 2001 when she retired.
It was tuned annually until a few years ago.

Literature: John Andrews, 'Arts and Crafts Furniture', ACC 2005 p.83 - this piano is model no.8a, piano no. 96377;
Jeremy Cooper, 'Victorian & Edwardian Furniture & Interiors', London, 1987, p. 188, for a reproduction of Broadwood's advertisement in the Burlington Magazine;
John Wainwright, 'Broadwood, By Appointment', London 1982. see p. 235-238;
Christopher Jordan, 'Ernest Marsh, Collector (1863-1945)', The Decorative Arts Society 1850 to the Present, Journal 24, 2000, pp. 31-47,
Simon Nowell Smith, 'Edwardian England', 1964, pl. XLVII (b);
Surrey History Centre, 'John Broadwood and Sons Archive 1817-1952' ref. 2185/JB/42/179, 2185/JB/42/183 and 2185/JB/42/241;
Czakó, Elemér (ed.) 'Brit iparművészeti kiállítás katalogusa', Budapest, 1902.

In the article by Christopher Jordan in 'Ernest Marsh, Collector (1863-1945)', The Decorative Arts Society 1850 to the Present, Journal 24, 2000, pp. 31-47, he confirms that at least five Broadwood pianos with Ashbee casing were executed. Crawford notes that four uprights were known and lists them as follows:

1. Oak, dated 1900 with painted decoration for E Peter Jones, the store owner. This example was sold in Decorative Arts, Sotheby’s New Bond Street, 16 May, 1986, lot 134.
2. Oak, dated 1903, with inlays and enamel plaque. From Jordan's article, it is likely that this is the example bought by Ernest Marsh and illustrated in a contemporary photograph from 1906 of the morning room at Coombe Bury, Kingston Upon Thames, confirmed by Crawford as being at Standen, East Grinstead, West Sussex.
3. Spanish mahogany, undated, decorated with inlays of clover. Illustrated J H Elder-Duncan, 'The House Beautiful and Useful', n.d.,1907, p. 153, now in the collection of Jimmy Page, London.
4. Spanish mahogany with elaborate strapwork hinges, dated 1904. Documented in a contemporary photograph from the Broadwood archives at the Surrey History Centre with a contemporary caption 'Small upright Piano in Spanish Mahogany case with black and white inlays. Double doors with Iron hinges pierced and fitted on vellum, the interior panelled in Holly. Designed by C R Ashbee, Esq. for the Buda-Pesth (sic) Exhibition'. Further illustrated in Broadwood's advertisement in the Burlington Magazine and Simon Nowell Smith, 'Edwardian England', 1964, pl. XLVII (b). Confirmed by Crawford as 'whereabouts unknown'. This is the present piano no. 95406.

Exhibited: ‘British Applied Arts Exhibition’, Budapest, September-November 1902, No. 171.

For similar no. 8 pianos, see Sworders Decorative Art and Design, Tuesday 28 January 2014, lot 299, and Huntington Art Museum, West Virginia, object number no. 2007.4.

IMPORTANT NOTE

This lot contains elephant ivory material. Please be advised that several countries, including those in the EU and the USA, now prohibit the importation of ivory items unless under specific conditions. Accordingly, prospective buyers should familiarise themselves with the relevant customs regulations of their country and ensure they are able to import this item prior to bidding.

Ivory Declaration Submission Reference: 8AS2SW74

Condition Report

The top edge has knocks and dents to the edge. The front corners of the lid with loss to the veneer. The lid with a ringlet mark to the front right corner. With scratches to the top of the sides. The front corners of the right side chipped. The left door not shutting flush. With plits to the inside of the sides. The sheet music stand with scratches from the brass pins. The block flanking the keyboard to the right hand side with a (burn?) mark. The upper keys with some faint stains to the ivory. The underside of the keyboard has brackets fitted, it appears the frame has been cut to the pierced lower panels to the sides, Front right foot, restuck - visible cracks. The back right leg with a spliced repair to the support. The skirting by the pedals knocks and chips. With general knocks, marks, scratches, and dents commensurate with age and having been moved over the years. Additional images uploaded.

Additional images of the hammers and tuning pins uploaded.