
Schleip Lyre Piano
Type: Lyre Piano
Collection: Sweelinck Collection
Manufacturer: Johann Christian Schleip
Year: c.1830
Geography: Berlin / Germany
Dimensions (cm): L=59 W=125 H=225
Current location: On display at Huize Kolthoorn
General description: Upright fortepiano in lyra-form case raised on four scrolling legs with lion's paws to the front.
Additional information
Keyboard width: CC-a4
Pedals: keyboard shift, bassoon, damping
Context: Johann Christian Schleip (1786-1848) began his career working in a piano workshop in Tungeda, the town where he was born. In 1818 Schleip moved to Berlin and founded his own workshop. Schleip was renowned for his lyre pianos such as this one.
Decorative features: This piano was one of the first to use tropical wood for hammer shanks.