We are delighted to have our Piano Prices Guide Volume III, available. This publication is a 248-page colour-illustrated paper-backed book containing many photographs and over 3,000 entries for pianos prices sold at auction since 2011.

We frequently need to ask this question to comply with the law on selling pianos with ivory keyboards. It’s not always as easy to tell as you might imagine!

This double piano was an innovative creation of the Parisian firm Pleyel, whose instruments were the favourites of composers and pianists such as: Chopin, Grieg, Debussy, Saint-Saëns and Stravinsky.

Grand pianos with stunning cases have always been desirable and in our 12th December 2019 Auction Sale we had a lovely selection ranging from a 6ft 2in 1926 Pleyel to a little ‘baby’ grand Art Deco style Monnington and Weston.

The house of Bechstein pianos was established in c1853 and, as far as we know, the grand piano No. 124 is one of the earliest known examples of this maker, so it is indeed a real piece of history!  We were pleased to be offering this piano in our auction sale of the 12th December 2019.

Most piano teachers agree that for their pupils to succeed their posture must be correct.  This means a good, adjustable piano stool.

We often get contacted by famous people wanting to sell their piano and certainly prospective buyers love to know that their piano has belonged to someone noteworthy.

Yamaha pianos continue to be one of the top sellers in our auctions.  Piano teachers find them a good piano to teach their pupils on and often recommend the brand to them.

There is an increasing demand for beautifully cased and fully restored grands and this 7ft 4in Model C Bechstein is the perfect example. 

Bösendorfers are very much sought after and with a new Model 200 costing in excess of £80,000, our auction is an excellent way to buy one.

In our 4th April 2019 Auction Sale we had an amazing twenty two grand and three upright Steinway pianos.  With prices from £1,000 to £40,000, there was a Steinway to suit every pocket!

‘The Whole Nine Yards’ is an expression we all know. For concert grand pianos it perhaps should be the ‘Whole Nine Feet’ but for the Bösendorfer Imperial grand it’s the ‘The Whole Nine Foot Six Inches!’ 

Yamaha pianos continue to be one of the top sellers in our auctions.  Piano teachers find them a good piano to teach their pupils on and often recommend the brand to them. 

Johannes Pohlman was a pianoforte maker much revered as one of the original craftsmen from Germany, collectively known as one of the twelve apostles – although the term and number of twelve is heavily disputed! 

Many of us will remember the name Anthony Cooke, who was a Senior Technician at Steinway and Sons.  He joined as an apprentice in c1963, when the workshops were still in Hanover Square, continuing to become the onsite Senior Technician until c1998.

For most people a music room is a luxury that few can afford.  A piano must share space in a room used for many purposes – even watching the TV! 

I suspect the debate on which is best out of Bösendorfer or Steinway, eventually comes down to personal taste.  We were pleased to be offering this recent Bösendorfer (c2001) Model 170 in our Auction Sale of the 13th December 2018.

All the world’s top makes of pianos have a top Model range.  With Yamaha it is the ‘hand-made’ S Series.  With Kawai it’s the Shigeru range.

Followers of our website will recall the successful auction of the Colt Clavier Collection in June 2018.  Collectors are always on the look out for the rare historically important instruments. 

You’ve heard the expression “the full nine yards” – well perhaps we could adapt the phrase for the Bösendorfer Imperial Model Grand to “the full nine feet”.