Erard Square Piano

Compass: FF-f3

Inscriptions

On the nameboard: Erard Freres a Paris 1788 / Rue du Mail No 37

Context: Sebastian Erard was a piano maker from Strasbourg who built his first square piano in 1777. In 1792 he moved his workshop to London to avoid the French Revolution as he was known to make pianos for Marie Antoinette, who was quite unpopular at the time. This piano is one of group of sixteen pianos given to Marie Antoinette, and only one of two that survive today.