David Winston's Top Picks

No 1

Lot 19: Pleyel, Paris; a rare double grand piano, number 18907, 1929 | Est. £30,000-50,000 (+ fees)

"This is a very brave design.  Making a single concert grand is complicated enough, but to combine two into one requires an exceptional level of expertise. The fact that two players can play on a single instrument, offers a level of musical communication not available when playing on two separate pianos, side by side.  And of course, the provenance is so interesting. You feel its history when you play it."

Watch via the video below the Pleyel double grand piano being played by concert pianist, Dame Imogen Cooper, and Xiaowen Shang from the Royal Academy of Music, London.   To discover more, including a video of David and Dame Imogen Cooper discussing this rare instrument and the collection as a whole, click here.

No. 2

Lot 7: Rippen, Holland; a 6'2'' aluminium grand piano, circa 1965 | Est. £12,000-15,000 (+ fees)

"This is such a brave and extraordinary design.  I love the fact that by dispensing with the traditional wooden case and iron frame and instead using a unified aluminium structure, the makers were free to make this wonderful, sinuous, dramatic shape to the case.  It is very stable and light and also a fine musical instrument."

Click the image to watch the video and learn more. 

No. 3

Lot 15: Broadwood; a 7'4'' Barless grand piano, dated 1904 | Est. £12,000-18,000 (+ fees)

"I am a great admirer of Arts and Crafts design and this is a superb example. The quality of the design details is exceptional.  In addition, the use of the unique patent Broadwood ‘Barless’ frame makes a very special instrument indeed."

No. 4

Lot 32: An English square piano, circa 1795 | Est. £6,000-8,000 (+fees)

"This is such a sweet piano, with casework wonderfully representative of the most sophisticated 18th century furniture taste and design.  It no doubt was made to special commission, either for an exhibition or an important client. The Wedgwood plaques beautifully set -off the fine veneers and are of the highest quality. It has such a lovely atmosphere about it and must have been a very loved and highly prized possession for the original owner. I wish it could tell me more of its story."

No. 5

Lot 39: Wurlitzer, Cincinnati; a 4'1'' butterfly grand piano, circa 1937 | Est. £10,000-15,000 (+fees)

"This is Art Deco design at its absolute best.  It is also the smallest full 88 note key grand ever made and an instrument not only notable for its iconic appearance, but also housed within the piano are many very clever innovations, making a very successful small piano musically. They were only made for a few years and they are much sought after and very rare. In the right setting, this would be magnificent."

Click the image to watch the video and learn more. 

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AUCTION:
The auction will take place at Dreweatts on Thursday 23 September at 12pm BST:

Dreweatts
Donnington Priory
Newbury
Berkshire RG14 2JE

VIEWING:
The sale can be viewed by appointment at the Period Piano Company (not Dreweatts) from Monday 6 September:  

Period Piano Company
Park Farm Oast
Frittenden Road
Biddenden
Kent TN27 8LG

To book an appointment, please email: housesales@dreweatts.com or call 44 (0) 1635 553 513. 

ENQUIRIES:
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com 
Press enquiries: smaylor@dreweatts.com