If you have visited our showroom you will know that piano design is a big part of the Piano Shop Bath. We have built a reputation on producing pianos that standout from ordinary finishes and provide a bespoke experience to piano playing. One of our most successful concepts has been our Painted Piano range, which provides customers with a piano of their choice, painted in the colour of their choice. This is a high quality satin finish that is applied by expert technicians who have years of experience in high-end paint application.
A Bechstein piano from our Painted Piano range.
Piano design and bespoke finishing actually has a long history that dates back to when instruments were handmade in small workshops, on commission from patrons who could choose every last aspect of the final detail, from wood finishing to ornate hand painted decorative features. The harpsichord below is a typical example of the finished article, with a hand painted finish that rivals the detail you would expect to see in an art gallery.
Buffo harpsichord, Giovanni Antonio Buffo, Venice, Italy, 1574. Image copyright V&A Museum
Fast forward to the era of modern piano making, we find that the tradition has been kept alive and it seems that wherever there are people with money and an eye for style, bespoke finishes are the end result. The piano below is from the Royal Collection and was commissioned by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, both keen musicians. It was manufactured by the renowned piano firm Erard and features gilded and painted surfaces by François Rochard. This is a classic example of collaboration between piano manufacturer and craftsman, for the sole purpose of producing a unique piano for their client. It is a tradition that we very proudly continue here at the Piano Shop Bath and we invite to keep your eyes peeled over the coming months for some exciting announcements on piano design at our showroom!
Grand piano 1856, Image copyright the Royal Collection Trust.