The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-12
A O R FORTUNES.
Constructed d to Match the Decorations OF
Room-Often Cost $4,000.
New York Times.

when announcements WSS a.
Gently that Charles M. Schwab had
paid $4,000 for a piano, many per-
sons may have considered this to be
a large sum to pay for 8 musical in
strument. But as q matter of fact,
when it is explained that this par
ticular piano was made according to
MI. Schwsb's own design, to match
the general scheme of decoration of
the room, the amount is modest in
comparison with some prices which
have been paid by other wealthy
New Workers.
Many of these expensive instru-
ments are seldom played upon. They
are parts of the furnishings Of the
room; ornaments purely and simply.
| In the homes of the wealthy there
are often to be found three and four
instrun ents in different rooms, and
Tor these, when decorated according
to the design and fancies of the own
er, large sums of money, amounting
iu some cases to $4,000, have been
paid. Here in New York alone are
many of these highpriced instru
ments in the homes of the rich.
The cases are made of the finest
mater Il obtainsble in the world, and
after they are put together and made
complete the different parts represent
the products and skill of many coun-
tries. For instance, there may be
wood from South America or some
out of-the way part of Europe. Work
men in London, Paris and other for
eign cities may have spent months
in perfecting and fitting material.
All of which costs money and when
the duty demanded by the govern
ment is added the reason for the
large price demanded may be appre,
ciated.
So far al IS known by Mr.. Stetson,
head of the firm of Steinway & Sons,
which firm probsbly deals more e1
tensilvely in decorative pianos than
any other in New York, the demand
for decorated and ornamental pianos
far exceeds the ability to supply
| them. Sometimes, according to Jos.
eph Burr Tiffany, in charge IF a
department devoted entirely to FL
ling these orders, it requires years to
meet the wishes of some customers.
The case of the ordinary piano is
made of various woods, but none If
these can BIZ used for the piano Wish
REQUIRES decoration. The most ex-
pensive wood generally used for this
purpose is found in South America,
and is called carmena. Mr.. Stetson
says there is but little of 1t to be
found in New York, and the demand
for it Is large. Only small pieces of
the right veneer for use can be OBJ
tanned, and these have to be put to-
gather before the decorator or pain
ter can begin work.
The large sums of money which
are paid to manufacturers for pianos
do not represent the total outlay.
| Millionaires have sent to London,
Paris and Berlin for artists to come
to New York and paint the panels of
| pianos for a certain room. Some
times the customer has to wait for a
long time before the necessary wood
can be secured and matched to be
ready for the artist. When this is
accomplished the panels are turned
over to the painter, who after study
ing the decorations of the room in
which the piano is to be placed
starts to work. Meanwhile the wood
carver is busy, and he must also con-
form to the designs of the furniture
t in the room. In some cases several
wood carvers are employed in diff
ferent parts of the world.
The legs of the piano naturally
come in for the most elaborate dec
orations as far as the wood carving is
concerned. These decorations are
usually designed by the owner.
The most expensive piano in New
York at the present time belongs to
the estate of the late Henry G. Mar
quand, the banker. This piano cost
$4,000 to construct and $4,000
more to decorate. We'll known ar