A GIRAFFE PIANO
Attributed to C. Van Der Does. (Vooburg, 1769 - Amsterdam, 1827.)
" The case of Cuba mahogany, the front panel with gilded upper moulding terminating in a scroll supported on a fluted column
with a capital of gilded acanthus leaves, the keyboard supported by gilded rams heads, the faciaboard of rosewood with double brass stringing,
the later action by J.J. Nissen, Amsterdam, the six and half octave keyboerd, CC to g4, with ivory naturals and ebonised accidentals,
two pedals controlling forte and una corda stops.
Inscribed on the wrest plank : J.J. Nissen, Amsterdam and labelled internally with the dealer s label J.A. Buschen.
Height : 230cm. Width : 117cm.
The casework of this instrument bears a striking resemblance to the piano by van der Does now in the Victoria & Albert Museum. This last instrument is best known for its depiction in the painting by Sir William Orchardson,
R.A. entitled " Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory ". Van der Does name was formerly misread as van der Hoef. It is regrettable that Nissen saw fit to remove the original action and replace it with a standard upright piano of his time…
See Philip James " Early Keyboard Instruments ", plate LXV, Rosamund Harding " The Piano-Forte ", p. 86, and Howard Scott " Victoria "& Albert Museum, Catalogue of Musical Instruments ", vol I, pp 117 - 118. "
Description from Sotheby s catalogue ; november 1994.
The case and mechanism restored.

40 000 E.

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