Music Trade Review
Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 10 - Page 10
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
. 33. Gbase
Hrt (Sranb
V:
One of the remarkable specimens of the American art pianos is shown above. It is the A. B. Chase grand recently completed and
delivered in New York to the order of Mr. Edw. Thaw, the well-known New Yorker whose palatial residence has been widely commented
upon in the newspapers. The magnificent instrument here illustrated is one of the most costly in outline and detail. It is of mahogany
heavily overlaid with sixteenth century gold, and its cost runs well up into the thousands, touching closely the $6,000 mark. The design
was supplied by the eminent art-designer, Mr. Chas. E. Burge, and the order was given to the A. B. Chase Co. nearly two years ago. Work
on the piano was begun in October, '04, and the instrument was shipped from Norwalk in the latter part of last month. There is more
than $1,000 worth of carving alone on the case of this piano, estimating the bare time of the artists who did the work in the A. B. Chase
factory.
Referring to this piano, The Music Trade Review of Feb. 10 said:
"It is a parlor grand of dull gold, with burnished trimmings, and is altogether one of the most striking and most exquisitely artistic
of the art grands ever shown in this city. It is of the Louis XV. period, and with all the lavishness of decoration, nothing could be more
refined and more direct in its appeal to the aesthetic tastes of the lover of pure architecture. Attention has been given to every detail and
to every point. The blending of the burnished figures and delicate scroll work into the dull background is done with such consummate
skill that one can hardly say whether it is a strong contrast or an absolute melting quality that has been achieved. The trusses and pedals
are wrought out in a manner that gives them distinction, but not to the point of dominating—in a word, it is so perfectly balanced that
there is no dominant note. To the music lover, to the lover of a superb piano, however, there is an achievement beyond that which
reaches the eye. It is the mission, after all, of the piano maker to reach the ear and the sensibilities of the music lover, to create that
which will represent the all-satisfying vehicle to carry off those inspirations which are beyond and above tangibility, and only to be ex-
pressed on a medium of incalculable merit and perfection. It is such an instrument that is encased in the above-described setting, it is a
musical gem worthy of its setting, and in this A. B. Chase Piano a standard has been set which is to be achieved only through years of
adherence to the highest ideals possible to embody in piano making. The A. B. Chase has gained an immense hold among the musicians
of the country, and it is found in many homes where nothing but the very best would be tolerated. Both East and West it has created
its own value and every instrument strengthens the position of the piano that went before it."
TLhc B- 1B. Cbase Co-, Ulorwalk, ©bio
10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
. 33. Gbase
Hrt (Sranb
V:
One of the remarkable specimens of the American art pianos is shown above. It is the A. B. Chase grand recently completed and
delivered in New York to the order of Mr. Edw. Thaw, the well-known New Yorker whose palatial residence has been widely commented
upon in the newspapers. The magnificent instrument here illustrated is one of the most costly in outline and detail. It is of mahogany
heavily overlaid with sixteenth century gold, and its cost runs well up into the thousands, touching closely the $6,000 mark. The design
was supplied by the eminent art-designer, Mr. Chas. E. Burge, and the order was given to the A. B. Chase Co. nearly two years ago. Work
on the piano was begun in October, '04, and the instrument was shipped from Norwalk in the latter part of last month. There is more
than $1,000 worth of carving alone on the case of this piano, estimating the bare time of the artists who did the work in the A. B. Chase
factory.
Referring to this piano, The Music Trade Review of Feb. 10 said:
"It is a parlor grand of dull gold, with burnished trimmings, and is altogether one of the most striking and most exquisitely artistic
of the art grands ever shown in this city. It is of the Louis XV. period, and with all the lavishness of decoration, nothing could be more
refined and more direct in its appeal to the aesthetic tastes of the lover of pure architecture. Attention has been given to every detail and
to every point. The blending of the burnished figures and delicate scroll work into the dull background is done with such consummate
skill that one can hardly say whether it is a strong contrast or an absolute melting quality that has been achieved. The trusses and pedals
are wrought out in a manner that gives them distinction, but not to the point of dominating—in a word, it is so perfectly balanced that
there is no dominant note. To the music lover, to the lover of a superb piano, however, there is an achievement beyond that which
reaches the eye. It is the mission, after all, of the piano maker to reach the ear and the sensibilities of the music lover, to create that
which will represent the all-satisfying vehicle to carry off those inspirations which are beyond and above tangibility, and only to be ex-
pressed on a medium of incalculable merit and perfection. It is such an instrument that is encased in the above-described setting, it is a
musical gem worthy of its setting, and in this A. B. Chase Piano a standard has been set which is to be achieved only through years of
adherence to the highest ideals possible to embody in piano making. The A. B. Chase has gained an immense hold among the musicians
of the country, and it is found in many homes where nothing but the very best would be tolerated. Both East and West it has created
its own value and every instrument strengthens the position of the piano that went before it."
TLhc B- 1B. Cbase Co-, Ulorwalk, ©bio
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