Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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THE MUSIC TRADE! REVIEW
R1CCA CO. SON'S
Richly Carved Art Case Instruments
Splendid Specimens of the Wood Carver's Art Are
These Creations of this Enterprising Concern. The
Ambition of Luigi Ricca Realized.
Ricca & Son, 884-894 East 134th street, have just produced an ex-
quisite art piano after original designs by Prof. Raffaele Raineri, an
acknowledged master of the wood carver's art, who executed the superb
instruments illustrated on this page.
Prof. Raineri is a Sicilian by birth, and brother of Salvatore Raineri,
a distinguished sculptor, with whom he studied until he became a
pupil of Prof. Valenti, president of the Institute of Beaux Arts in
Palermo, where his originality of conception, delicacy of execution,
treatment, all of which is admirably harmonized by a fine artistic
sense.
The necessarily reduced form of reproductions imposed by space
limitations prevent an adequate appreciation of the beauty as well as
the perfection that marks the execution of this design. Moreover,
black and white effects lack the warmth of coloring possessed by the
beautifully figured wood employed by Ricca & Son in this superb speci-
men of pianoforte case architecture. They have spared nothing that
might enhance the work of the artist, and the result is no less credit-
able to them than to him, whose artistic sense conceived and whose
skill wrought this magnificent example of woodwork that is fitted to
adorn the palace of an Eastern potentate, or the music room of one of
America's financial kings.
Indeed much credit is due to Messrs. Ricca for having given such a
commission. It gives not alone substantial encouragement to an art
industry that would languish but for the patronage of the wealthy, and
those who, like the members of this firm, Lake a degree of pride in
their product, and would have their names associated with the produc-
tion of artistic masterpiece?, but they have set a very high standard
for the decorative treatment of piano cases in carved effects.
In the second illustration there appears a Regal piano player, espe-
cially designed to be used with this magnificent piano. The scheme of
decoration is the same as in the piano proper, and the work of the
artist is again distinguished by a delicacy and a fine sense of the ap-
propriateness of things. These two remarkable creations are worthy
mates, and will be a source of constant gratification and artistic pleas-
ure to the one who becomes the fortunate possessor.
It is a pleasure to note that in this commercial age there are still
men like Messrs. Ricca who cherish high ideals and who, while com-
pelled to live up to certain commercial requirements made necessary
by the demands of the age, find time to gratify their artistic inclina-
tions and love for the beautiful by the production of two instruments
that are destined to add new fame to the laurels already won by the
artist as well as to the makers whose name they bear.
Creations such as these lend dignity to the piano maker's art, and
afford a source of inspiration that cannot fail to have a most beneficial
influence on the trade as a whole. No printed description can convey
an adequate impression of the beauty of these instruments, and they
must be seen to be appreciated. One thing cannot be overlooked that
Messrs. Ricca & Son have shown an appreciation of the artistic char-
acter and possibilities of the pianoforte industry that is worthy of
recognition and appreciation.
Richly Carved Art Case Ricca ©. Son Piano
mastery of his art and ardor as a student made his name famous in
art circles in Italy. Prof. Raineri and his brother Salvatore subse-
quently were engaged for the execution of the stone decorations of the
buildings of the Exposition in Paris (1878), and later of the Theatre
Massino in Palermo. Before coming to New York, where he now has
established an Atelier, Prof. Raineri designed and executed sculptures
and carvings in numerous residences of the Italian nobility.
To turn from the artist to his work, it may be said that a description
in detail of this superb piano is almost impossible. The design and
execution of this carving, so characteristic of the Rococo in art, is as
delicately beautiful as it is bold in conception. It bears in very truth
the hall-mark which genius alone can place upon man's work. The
artist's fertility of resource is clearly shown in the clever treatment
of pilaster and truss, and all those duplicate parts which are usually
given corresponding ornamentation. No two lack individuality, each
one must mate, yet all harmonize with that nicety of balance that,
leaves an impression of sympathetic unity in the mind of the observer.
Whether it be a figure or grotesque head, an idealized face, a leaf, a!
rock, a shell, a scroll, the sculptor in wood has wrought with a rare
skill that which his artistic sense has dictated as a fitting adornment^
for each part of this masterpiece.
Elaborate as is the treatment of this instrument, there is nothing in
the work considered critically and in its entirety which offends against
the canons of good taste. From the exquisitely delicate carving of
the panels to the magnificent pediment that surrounds the case top
proper, there is everywhere shown a capacity for infinite variety of
Art Case Ricca <& Son Piano, With Art Case Regal Piarvo-Player Attached