The Louis XV style is one of the most beautiful classic furniture styles ever produced. The style evolved during the reign of King Louis XV of France during the early 18th Century. Once considered a sign of wealth and extravagance, the Louis XV style has evolved into one of the most elegant and beautiful styles ever produced. The Louis XV style is simply timeless, and it is as popular today as popular today as it was centuries ago.
Still today, the Louis XV style is generally found on only the finest and most expensive furniture. The Louis XV style requires taking a hard piece of wood and turning it into a beautiful and delicate object, often requiring extensive turning, bending and carving. Because of the immense amount of skill, time and labor involved in wood turning, bending and carving, it stands to reason that only the finest pianos would be made in the Louis XV style.
Not unlike 18th Century France, Turn-Of-The-Century America was a period of lavish lifestyles, excessive luxury and great prosperity. Several piano manufacturers specialized in creating custom, one-of-a-kind pianos on special order for wealthier clients in order to match their home’s décor – often in historical or period furniture styles. In the early 20th Century, it was not uncommon for a wealthy client to visit the prominent Knabe Piano Factory, choose the instrument they preferred among all others, then have the factory commission a specialized cabinet maker and artist to design and build a custom cabinet around the instrument they chose. This piano would have been picked out among many for its fine tone quality, and then a small fortune spent to have the cabinet custom made to suit the client’s décor!
This beautiful Knabe grand was built in 1922 and is one of the most intricately decorated pianos we have in our collection. The piano is hand-painted in the Neoclassical style and is adorned with angels, cherubs and lovers. The painted scenery is framed in beautifully gilded trim. The highly carved Louis XV style cabinet is exquisitely executed in superb detail with a lovely antique and aged patina. The lavish painted scenery and incredibly carved detail come together to give the instrument has an overall formal and elegant appearance. The instrument is signed by artist Harmen C. Koops (Born 1898 in Holland – Died 1957 in Los Angeles).
This piano is being internally restored to like-new condition. The overall tone and touch of this piano is superb. Not only is this instrument visually stunning, it is a top quality musical instrument which would satisfy any accomplished musician.
If desired, this piano can be equipped with the Pianomation player system, and can play by itself by streaming music live on an iPod, computer, iPad, etc.
A matching bench is included.