Piano c. 1878

natural stone pattern

wood texture

light earthy tone

brown and beige

england

warm toned

wooden texture

warm-toned

neutral brown palette

cardboard

musical-instrument

brown colour palette

Henry William Batley’s “Piano” (c. 1878) is a stunning example of the intricate craftsmanship and decorative tendencies of the Victorian era. This upright piano is notable for its elaborate wood carving, featuring intricate geometric patterns and floral motifs, which are reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement. The piano’s ornate design and high-quality construction would have made it a desirable piece for a wealthy Victorian home. The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses this impressive example of American furniture making.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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H. W. Batley, one of the great freelance designers of the 19th century, captured the exotic Anglo-Japanese aesthetic in his use of linear and naturalistic design elements. Shoolbred & Co. may have employed Japanese craftsmen to execute the exquisite carving. An attached music stand that ingeniously folds up into the cabinet and a commemorative silver plaque engraved with the piano's floral motifs, complete Batley, Shoolbred, and Collard & Collard's masterpiece, which has come to be a viewed as an icon of the Aesthetic Movement (1860-1880) in England. After its unveiling at the Paris Exposition Universalle in 1878, this piano made its way into private hands until being acquired by the Institute. A virtually identical model, made two years later, is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.