Manxman Pianoforte 1897

The Manxman Pianoforte, crafted by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, presents us with rich, symbolic imagery. Observe the stylized trees laden with fruit, echoed across the panels and doors. This ‘tree of life’ motif is ancient, symbolizing growth, connection to the earth, and familial roots. We see similar motifs in Minoan art, where trees represented the sacred grove and the continuity of life. Even earlier, we find the 'tree' as a symbol of the world axis. Here, this symbol speaks to our collective memory, evoking a yearning for nature and stability, at a time of rapid change and industrialization. The artist uses this powerful iconography to root the instrument, and its music, in something timeless and deeply human. It suggests a psychological need to anchor ourselves in the natural world, to find harmony, and to express the inexpressible through music. In the cyclical return of this motif we feel our ancestors' pulse.