Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30
WONDERFUL PIANO
IS WORK OF ART
$4,000 INSTRUMENT IN HOME
ON CHESTER PLACE
stelnway Art Reaches Height in
Beautiful Case, and Mechanical
Parts Are We'll Nigh
Perfection
by GEE o'JAY

III &EE OJAN
It may seem strange to those who
have not closely followed the prog
ress of American art that We as a ma
ton, did not wake up to the fact that
our architecture and furniture was in
artistic until a few years ago, and
then 1t was that our best artists and
architects interested themselves in the
movement, and an all-around improve
ment was the result. But America
never lags behind in any enterprise,
therefore it came to pass one day that
when an order was issued to Steinway
& Sons for a decorated piano the en-
tire work was planned and executed
here with such success that instru-
ments have not since been sent to Eu-
rope for external establishment.
The designing and execution of an
art piano is an interesting process and
is a matter of many months labor on
the part of all concerned. A close ex-
animation and study of any of the
Steinway art creations will reveal that
the time occupied has been well spent
and that these instruments belong to
the highest order of decorative art,
such only as is compatible with an ar
tistic product like the Steinway piano
itself
In the specially designed Steinway
cases almost every class of art is rep
resented-Egyptian, Greek, Byzantine,
Italian French and English.
Classical Styles
There is a Watteau-Boucher style
with graceful scroll work and pastural
idylls; the Empire with it's bronzed
mounts in relief. beautifully chased;
the Morse with it's crudity of effect
its incised carving of interlaced pat
terms and picturesque scenes of storm
and battle love and peace from the
stories of the old Vikings.
Then there are pianos after the style
of Louis XIV, XIV and XVI, with en-
bellishments to match the period, and
grand pianos decorated with designs
suggested by the. works of famous CON-
posers and poets. There is a Wagner
piano, the entire top of which is dec
GRATED with scenes from Wagner's
operas, surmounted by a portrait of this
great master. Another instrument
treated in similar decorative form
takes Shakespeare's Midsummer
Nights Dream" and Tempest" for
subjects And these are only few OF
the large number of grand and upright
pianos of the various styles and char
acters of the architectural and dec
orative art which have been produced
and are now on exhibition at the art
rooms of Steinway & Sons in New York
The other day I happened to be dis
cussing Steinway art cases with George
J. Birkel of the George j. Birkel Music
company. the local agent for the Stein
way piano. He described for me q
piano this firm recently sold to Edward
L. Doheny of 8 Chester place in this
city. This instrument which is E
splendid example of the Steinway art
case, is designed after the style OF
Louis XIV.
MedaIIions Hand-Painted
You have only to look at the long
expanse of carved wood and you see
at once what an immense amount of
artistic possibilities are revealed. The
entire piano is finished with the high
est quality gold leaf procurable. The
medallions are exquisitely hand paint
ed with groups of cherubs performing
on antique musical instruments. The
cover typifies a vision of love worked
out in a manner worthy of Michael
Angelo.
At each side of the keyboard are
hand carved busts of musical celebri-
ties, indicative of the period of Louis
XIV. The music rack is piece of Won
derful wood carving-a most intricate
pattern with a fanciful central design
in keeping with the other decorations
on the cover and sides. Probably the
most striking feature Of this piano is
the carving of the legs. The illustra-
ton which accompanies this article
but family gives an adequate idea of
this wonderful piece of work This
piano is considered one of the very
best of the Steinway productions, and
simply from an artistic standpoint is
well worth the price paid for it-$12, 900.
Aside from the art aspect it realizes
the very height of mechanical perfec-
ton.
Ugliness has had its day and it would
be quite impossible to : rnish rooms
as they were furnished few years ago
AS will be seen from the accompany
ing illustration, the piano owned by
Mr.. Doheny was designed to harmonize
with the decorations of the room in
which it stands. This schemt of art
and harmony introduces into that mag
nificent home a superb atmosphere OF
repose and distinction.
Struggle for Conquest
1t is pride to every American that
the Steinway of today has for its
clientele the cultivated people of the
entire world. It's conquest, it is true
has not been gained without a strug.
gle. There were positions fortified by
tradition and conservatism to be car.
ried. But Steinway & Sons started ou-
with a laudable ambition and deter.
mlnation to impress the Old World with
the achievements of the new.
So successful and effective was the
campaign that the artistic worth of the
Steinway now commands recognition
and support in all lands, and trave
where you will the crowned heads of al
countries have paid it official and per
sonal recognition by use in their pal
aces and by royal patents appointing
Steinway & Sons as makers to thei
courts.
If you are interested in art piano
eases-if you have in mind some spe
cial plan for furnishing your music
roop-much can be learned by a visi
to Steinway hall, occupying the seconc
, tiooi ~, ~ ~ tle Leol sS -: o iKel company