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Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts
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Pianoforte
Object/Artifact
One pianoforte in the Sheraton style with six reeded legs. The piano is surfaced with Rosewood veneer and decorated with inlays of brass beading and sleeves on the upper portions of the legs. It has two drawers with wooden pulls. A stenciled maker's name is located on the fall board and reads: "Made by Jason Herlson, Chamber Street, New York". This pianoforte has five octaves.
2002.043.1
The pianoforte, simplified to piano, is a percussion instrument. When keys are pushed a felt covered hammer hits the strings inside the instrument. The strings vibrate, transmitting to the soundboard, which creates the sounds you hear. Each key produces a different pitch. Like many early pianos this instrument has only a single pedal towards the back left of the instrument. When this pedal was pushed an iron rod was pushed upward into the piano. This pedal was used to sustain the notes, by lifting the dampers off the strings. This pianoforte can be seen in the parlor of the Livingston-Backus House.
Genesee Country Village and Museum
Jason Herlson
1825 - 1835
New York City
New York
United States of America
North America
Signature
Inside
Jennie Corl Mattie Corl, Candor, NY
Pianoforte
35 in
68-1/2 in
27 in
Height given is when the piano is closed. When the key board cover is open the piece is actually 43" high.
rosewood veneer
Brass
Iron
Ivory