This upright piano was made by Martin Seuffert in Vienna, Austria around 1812, It is a grand piano standing on its head, with the right side of the case following the usual shape of a grand. The scroll at the top reminded people of a giraffe, and the word became a technical term for this type of piano. This is a style that was favored in Germany and Austria. All of Seuffert’s known extant pianos are giraffes. This piano has a compass of FF-f4, hanging Viennese action, leather hammers, double-strings FF-d#, triple-strings e-f4, 2 pedals: dampers and keyboard shift, wood frame, and wood case with a silk front panel and a decorated lower panel.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.