Steinway & Sons Louis XV-style giltwood grand piano will be offered on Leslie Hindman auction during the Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts auction on April 28-29. The piano will be available for auction on the first day and LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
The 1904 Model B piano was designed in commemoration of the renowned piano company’s 50th anniversary. Joseph Burr Tiffany, a relative of Tiffany & Co.’s founder and lead artist for Steinway’s art case department designed this particular example, with serial number 108815.
Carved by Juan Ayuso from solid mahogany and clad in 24-karat gold, this piano had several owners including William Stafford, a New York banker who kept the piano in his Plaza Hotel residence, Benjamin Sawtelle Hanchett and his family, who kept the piano for nearly 65 yeas, George Michalski, and Mark Fritz. The piano was part of Frit’s collection from 2004 until his death in 2012.
The piano was restored in 1985 by distinguished piano conservationist Lloyd Meyer of Camilleri Pianoworks. It is estimated that the piano will reach a whopping $200,000 and possibly more.
