Sellers Square Piano

Description:

This square piano was made by John Sellers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1794-1796. Because the name board probably came from another maker’s piano, it has been speculated that this instrument could have been made by John Behrent or James Juhan of Philadelphia, or that Sellers rebuilt someone else’s piano. The unusually short compass would suggest an earlier date than Sellers is known, and the action type and knee-lever might indicate that the maker was originally German or Austrian. The piano has a compass of C-f3, and early Prell action, leather hammers, first 10 notes are single-strung and the rest double-strung, with tuning pins on right, 1 knee-lever: dampers, a wood frame, and a mahogany case.

Date Made: 1778-1782

Maker: Sellers, John

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments, Music & Musical Instruments, Pianos

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Hugo Worch

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MI.291108Catalog Number: 291108Accession Number: 59954

Object Name: piano

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4250-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_605941

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