Square Piano
Style of
Christopher Ganer
German, 1740 - 1814
DateLate 18th century
PeriodLate 18th century
Classification(s)
Object TypeInstrument
Registration NumberFAS/F/65
DescriptionThe main highlight of the Drawing Room display of the 19th-century galleries is the one and only musical instrument in the MUŻA collection. Known as a square piano, it is considered to be a transitional piece during the experimentation phase before the classical upright piano reached its fully-fledged stage in its development. Neo-classical in style, this instrument would have primarily been constructed by a furniture or cabinet maker, with its musical component consisting of a keyboard and a simple yet complex system of stretched horizontal strings, a sound board and a series of tiny tightly-knit hammers for its playability. As the sound that emerges from this square piano is low and soft, it was typically used only in domestic settings. Such a square piano as this one would have provided light entertainment for the family and during private party functions.MaterialWood, ivory and other materials
Dimensions52 x 153 x 82Alternate ID Numbers
- HM Object Number 81430
- Inventory Card 3729-30
Online Collections
Public Access
On viewMuseumMUŻA
Location
- MUŻA, First Floor, Neoclassicism to Realism: 1800-1930, The Drawing Room in British Malta
MMM 004784
1765
Art / Paintings
MMM 005111
1986
Art / Drawings