Pianino

The rectangular instrument stands on two bun feet at the front and two prisms at the back. The protruding keyboard is decorated with leaf motifs at the front and supported by consoles with scales and leaves, ending in meander and female heads. The shorter sides of the keyboard are canellured. At the bottom there are two fields with plaited ribbon motifs. The frieze of the top front depicts Vitruvian scrolls, surmounted by a large field flanked by fluted pilasters with stylized heads. The middle of the field is carved with a female head, ram heads, a quiver and a torch in relief the side ones are decorated with carved string of pearls and leaves. The top has a rail constructed of pierced and connected ovals and plaited garlands. There are refined handles of gilt copper on the sides, between two richly carved fields. The straight stringing of the pianino is placed vertically. The mechanism, which was imported by Thék from Germany, is English-type, with a bottom damper. The mechanism was described and illustrated by Jenő Domonkos (Archives Department of the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts Krtf. 1396). The range of the pianino is 7 octaves, from A2 to a4, 85 notes altogether. The lower keys are covered with ivory, the upper ones with ebony. It has two pedals, a forte and a piano. According to information supported by the former owner, the pianino was Endre Thék's personal property and was in the first floor drawing room of his house in Üllői street. The instrument is a good example of the eclectic style at the end of the 19th century the sculptures decorating it are selected and restructured variants of Louis XVI elements. Just like other luxury furniture of the age, this is also a piece of a fairly high quality. Ref. the documents about Thék's furniture and piano factory in Archives Department Klt 551/1-13.