Steinway Concert Grand Piano and Bench

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Steinway Concert Grand Piano and Bench

Artist Wendell Castle (American, 1932 - 2018)

Date1994

DimensionsPiano: 40 5/8 x 75 1/4 x 111 1/4 in.(closed); Bench: 18 1/2 x 33 1/2 x 17 in.

MediumPiano: maple, mahogany, cocobolo veneer, curly maple veneer, brass; Bench: maple, cocobolo veneer, leather

ClassificationFurniture

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Florence Scott Libbey Bequest in Memory of her Father, Maurice A. Scott

Object number

1994.7A-B

Not on View

Label TextIn 1987 furniture artist Wendell Castle was commissioned by piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons to create the commemorative 500,000th Steinway piano. Since then, he has designed a number of sculptural pianos, including this one commissioned for the Toledo Museum of Art’s collection and for special Museum performances. Fascinated throughout his career with the design of furniture legs, Castle decided to create for the piano two arch-like supports. By placing these “legs” at each end of the piano to cradle the case, Castle was able to minimize the bulk of the top half of the instrument. Because of the color contrast of the light curly maple case on top of the dark cocobolo-veneered supports, the case to appears to float in space.