Square piano by George Pether, last quarter of the 18th cent...

Estimate

£800 - £1,200

Square piano by George Pether, last quarter of the 18th century, the case of mahogany with elaborate wide decorative stringing, the fascia-board and cheeks veneered with mahogany with cable and harewood stringing and satinwood crossbanding, single action with over-dampers, the five-octave keyboard, FF to f3, with ivory naturals and ebony accidentals, two brass-knobbed hand-stops controlling the damper-lift above and below the b/c key, on trestle stand, inscribed Georgius Pether from Mr Kirckman Londini fecit / No. 61 Oxford street, length 63", 160mm, width 212, 53.5cm

*Restored by Lucy Coad in 1998 and sold with her report on the restoration

**Ivory submission reference S42VD4DS

More Information

CONDITION REPORT November 2024

Lot 2504

PETHER SQUARE Square piano by George Pether, London, circa 1785.

Details:

The case of mahogany with elaborate wide decorative stringing, the fascia-board and cheeks veneered with mahogany with cable and harewood stringing and satinwood crossbanding. Single action with over-dampers. The five-octave keyboard, FF to f3, with ivory naturals and ebony accidentals, two brass-knobbed hand-stops controlling the damper-lift above and below the b/c key. Sits on trestle stand and inscribed ‘Georgius Pether from Mr Kirckman Londini fecit / No. 61 Oxford Street’.

Length 63", 160mm, width 212, 53.5cm.

Restored by Lucy Coad in 1998 and sold with her report on the restoration.

Condition: The pitch is currently a whole tone below modern concert pitch.

New damper cover rail.

There are a few broken iron strings.

Good working order although there would be improvement from regulation and tunings.

No sign of structural problems as these were addressed in the 1998 restoration where all major components, including wrest and hitch planks, were re-glued. The bridge is also still well glued to the soundboard as the soundboard was repaired and reinstated in 1998 aswell.

Observations noted in the condition report are based on obvious signs to the naked eye from an experienced restorer. They are designed for quick analysis of their condition, leaving interested parties to carry out their own personal inspection. Please note that actions have not been removed from instruments.