Upright Piano Cabinet Styles: Victorian

Mid Victorian (c. 1860-1880)

Styles - Ornate with carved/turned columns, occasionally 'grand' type legs with castors. Panels in 'top door' often fretted (with silk behind), carved or with gold-leaf etching; always with candle-sconces. Pedals usually wooden.

A late 1870s Chappell 'Cottage' Upright in an ornate Oak case

Late Victorian (c. 1880-1900)

Styles - often ornate with fluted or reeded end-mouldings & columns; Usually panels in 'top door' inlaid (with either floral display or Art Nouveau style); usually with candle-sconces fitted; Columns were usually 'truss' style and sometimes carved. A few unusually-styled 'Arts & Crafts' pianos were made between c.1895 & 1915.

A c.1880s French Pfeiffer cottage upright in an ebonised case

The column of the same Pfeiffer upright

An early 1890s Ed. Seiler upright in an ornate walnut case

A late 1880s Schiedmayer upright in an ornate ebonised case

An 1898 Bechstein model III upright in an inlaid Rosewood case

A typical column style of a Bechstein model III Upright

Cabinet Veneers - were mainly Walnut - burr & figured, Rio Rosewood, or ebonised pear-wood. Sometimes were etched with 'gold leaf' designs. Nearly all had Candle-sconces fitted. A few 'Arts & Crafts' models used Oak veneers.

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