A collection of unique, art cased pianos from the height of European piano making on display at Besbrode Pianos Leeds.

Around the turn of the twentieth century a period of prosperity inspired an interest in culture and the arts. As the only source of music in the home, the domestic importance of the piano was at its peak. At this time the wealthy commissioned bespoke, art cased pianos as visible status symbols to stand as centrepieces in a room. Technical innovation of the instrument had reached its maturity prompting a flourish in custom made, luxurious cases.

The breathtaking craftsmanship illustrated by these pianos reflect a climactic time in piano making and they stand as monuments to the position of the piano in social history. By 1905, gramophone and disc recordings were available allowing the passive enjoyment of music.

These impressive pianos have been sourced from across Europe to feature exclusively in this collection, each of artistic and cultural interest.  Some were designed by famous designers or architects. Often these pianos are representative of specific art periods such as Arts and Crafts or Art Deco. These art cased pianos represent the highest craftsmanship, whether it be exquisite, marquetry inlay, ornate, hand carved detail, intricate brass ormolu, or beautiful hand-painted decoration. Some of these pianos are unique, with others only a limited number were made.

The collection includes an inlaid, King Edward VII, 1899, Bluthner grand piano with ormolu mounts that was situated in the ballroom of Malborough House and displayed at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, a 1907 Ibach Model 2 grand piano in a checkerboard cherry cabinet, one of two designed for and offered to Richard Strauss and a Pleyel grand piano hand-painted in Berainesque style with fairies, satyrs, monkeys and mythical creatures, signed by eminent french poster artist Georges Meunier.

This exclusive collection is situated at Besbrode Pianos in Leeds occupying four floors of an Edwardian mill on the edge of Leeds city centre with an entire floor dedicated to art cased pianos. Visitors to the exhibition can expect to view more than 40 examples on display in this curated collection.

This free exhibition is open to all and runs throughout the month of September, celebrating the beauty and craftsmanship found in these rare instruments.

Exhibition Details

Venue: Floor 2 of Besbrode Pianos showroom directly behind the piano shop on 39 Holbeck Lane.
Accessibility: The exhibition takes place on the second floor. Please be advised we only have stair access to the event. 
Parking: Limited free parking is available in the yard behind the piano shop on Holbeck Lane. Turn onto Braithwaite Street and take an immediate left. Look for Besbrode Pianos signage.