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Anonymous, Viennese school, 
ca. 1785

The keyboard compass is 5 octaves, FF-f3. The case is made of solid oak. One knee lever for the damping and a hand-stop for the moderator. 
 

Anonymous, viennese school, ca 1785

This magnificent piano must have been in Germany, in Gera to be precise, proof of which was found under the soundboard where mice had made their nests of snippets of Gera newspaper and of a Gera bee-keeper’s brochure. 
The great instrument makers of the Friederici family lived in Gera, they made pianos and other instruments in solid oak. But since there is no surviving comparable instrument which is signed, it cannot be attributed to Friederici with certainty.  
It is clear though that this instrument is a perfect piano for music of Mozart and Haydn.

In Mozart’s day composers were commissioned by the nobility to compose music for various special occasions. This music was performed in halls of palaces. As yet there was no concert practice of audiences sitting on chairs listening to performers on a stage.

The miniature portrait of an unknown gentleman is by Louis-André Fabre, ca 1785

MiniatuurMozartTijd600x400

restoration, 1988

There was some woodworm damage, some soundboard cracks and some loose glueing joints. Apart from one leg which is replaced and the leather on the hammer heads the instrument is pretty much in its original state. 

Re-glueing and clamping
Soundboard in its separate pieces
Layout of soundboard
Re-leathering hammer heads

Recordings, a selection

Lubinov&Martynov

Alexei Lubimov and Yuri Martynov
W.A. Mozart, pieces for two fortepianos
Zig-Zag Territoires, ZZT306

Gary Cooper
Haydn, Late piano works
Channel Classics, CCS SA 26509

Cecchetti CPE Bach
Riccardo Cecchetti
C.P.E. Bach, Sonatas, Fantasies & Rondo
Challenge Classics
Anonymous 1785
Yuko Inoue
C.P.E Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
The Art of Emotions
PSC 1372