The piano is part of a small series of exclusive instruments intended for the European aristocracy. A great stroke of luck is its clearly documented provenance: it once belonged to Maria Karolina of Naples-Sicily, a daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria. A portrait from the 1780s shows the art-loving queen playing exactly on this piano.
Precious materials such as mahogany veneer, ivory and artistic fire-gilded fittings were processed by David Roentgen with the highest precision. The result was an instrument that combines classicist elegance with exquisite quality and, thanks to careful restoration, still shines today in a fabulous, playable condition.
Historical Piano (Hammerklavier)
David Roentgen (1743 Herrhaag - 1807 Wiesbaden) and Peter Kinzing (1745 Neuwied - 1816 Mannheim)
Neuwied, around 1785
Oak, mahogany veneer, fire-gilded brass fittings, rosewood, pearwood and rosewood inlays.
Signature: "Roentgen et Kinzing. à Neuwied sur le Rhin."
Range F` - f"` (five octaves), continuous two-tone
Dimensions: height 81.5 cm, width 160 cm, depth 71 cm
Provenance: Queen Maria Carolina of Naples-Sicily (1752-1814)
Expertise of Prof. Dr. Giovanni Paolo Di Stefano.