Name of Instrument: portable piano

Maker / Brand:

Stearns Catalog #: 1341

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Chordophone

Date of Fabrication: 18th C.

Location: CHO TT 1

Description: This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, we have portable piano with a three octave compass from f. It has a rectangular body of dark wood with no dampers. The piano has German action with escapement. Little is known about this specimen except that was known to have been sold by the nefarious Franciolini.

Research: Stearns Staff