{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O58960"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58960/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O58960","accessionNumber":"W.2-1919","objectType":"Pianino","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<i>Pianino</i> was a term used by the London-based firm of Chappell & Co for their version of the glasschord, a keyboard instrument of three octaves fitted with glass rods. The <i>pianino</i> could be used to create a bell-ringing effect, to provide the correct pitch for choirs, or to help amateurs tune pianos, when there were fewer professional piano-tuners available.","physicalDescription":"Pianino, with a range of thirty-seven notes, c–c3, with a simple mahogany-veneered oak case and folding lid, and satinwood-veneered key-well and nameboard, decorated with pierced fretwork. The instrument is fitted with glass rods struck by hammers, which the keys activate.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Chappell & Co.","id":"A33617"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"mahogany","id":"AAT12221"},{"text":"satinwood","id":"AAT12451"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"ebony","id":"AAT12055"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"veneering","id":"AAT53878"},{"text":"piercing","id":"AAT231153"},{"text":"joining","id":"AAT137062"},{"text":"planing","id":"AAT53863"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Mahogany- and satinwood-veneered oak case with pierced satinwood fretwork, Ivory-covered naturals, ebony sharps and glass rods","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES299334"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pianino","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1815","earliest":"1810-01-01","latest":"1819-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Edmund Davis, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"18.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"56.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"57.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from Howard Schott: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part I: Keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 41.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Patent / CHAPPELL & CO / 124 New Bond Street/ London","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in ink on the nameboard of the instrument."}],"objectHistory":"This instrument was given to the Museum by Edmind Davies, Esq.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"English pianino, mahogany- and satinwood-veneered oak case, glass tubes, Chappell & Co, about 1815.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Howard Schott: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part I: Keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 108"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"PIANINO\r\nEnglish\r\nBy Chappell & Co., London, about 1815\r\nInscribed Patent / CHAPPELL & CO / 124 New Bond Street / London\r\nMahogany veneer and satinwood veneer. The instrument has a range of three octaves, c - c3. and the sound is produced by hammers striking glass rods. \r\n \r\nKeyboard Catalogue No.: 41  \r\n \r\nThe original function of this instrument is not clear; given the constant pitch of the glass, it could have been used to tune pianos or provide the pitch for a choir. \r\n\r\nW.2-1919 \r\n\r\nGiven to the V & A by Edmund Davis, Esq.","date":{"text":"pre September 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-08-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.2-1919"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1919,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-05-16","availableToBook":true}}