The Arts & Crafts Movement in America was most popular from about the 1900 - 1915 period, and had all but disappeared before 1920. Although the Arts & Crafts Movement was a relatively short-lived design era, hundreds of thousands of homes were built and furnished in the popular Craftsman/Mission style. Today, there is a huge Renaissance in the Arts & Crafts Movement. Original Craftsman style homes are being renovated, new Craftsman style homes are being built, and most major furniture lines are manufacturing and selling furnishings in the Craftsman style to reflect the Mission/Arts & Crafts period.
Because the Arts & Crafts movement was such an extreme change from traditional period styles, piano manufactures were very slow to adapt. Very few manufacturers went to the time and expense of adding Craftsman style pianos to their line. By the time these few makers added Craftsman design pianos to their product line, the Arts & Crafts movement seemed to fade away almost as quickly as it came. As a result, Craftsman style pianos are exceedingly rare today.
The Emerson Piano Company was one of Boston's premier piano builders. Their instruments were known to be of the best quality and highest craftsmanship in both aesthetics and musical quality.
This lovely piano is an exceedingly rare example of the McHugh influenced Mission style (note the unusually designed "X" design in the pegged front legs). What makes this piano a bit unusual is that it appears that the legs are indeed real mortise and tenon with actual pegs holding them together. The piano is made of lovely quarter sawn oak wood in a fumed oak finish. Note the unusual Mission style hardware (hinges, brackets, etc) which nicely compliment this beautiful Arts & Crafts style design. Mission/Craftsman style pianos of this caliber are exceedingly rare in today's market, and they are very desirable as a result.
This piano is being restored to like-new condition, inside and out. Not only will it be a stunning piece of period Mission furniture, but it has a superior tone quality and touch, making it a superior quality musical instrument.
A matching bench is included. Computerized player mechanisms can be installed if desired.
Note: As founder of The Antique Piano Shop, I have personally collected Mission / Arts & Crafts style pianos for over 25 years. I have a great passion for anything Mission / Arts & Crafts, including Craftsman homes, furniture, and accessories. If you are a true Arts & Crafts enthusiast, you will appreciate how impossible it is to find true Arts & Crafts / Mission style pianos in today’s market. Nearly three decades of collecting and preserving these “impossible to find” instruments has allowed me the opportunity to present the largest collection of true Mission / Arts & Crafts style instruments anywhere in the world.
We are proud to offer the serious enthusiast the option of adding an authentic period instrument for their Craftsman home.
- Michael Stinnett, Founder, The Antique Piano Shop, Inc.