Square Piano 1835–38 John Tallman John Tallman was established as a piano builder on Barclay street in the late 1820s and 1830s and he appears in several City Directories from the time. He was one of many independent builders that could be found throughout New York City and other cities in the United States. Many of his surviving instruments, like this example at The Met, are decorated with ornately carved wood and gilt decorations and wood and brass inlays. The instrument sits on a stand that is similar to those of other New York makers of the time. Technical description: Rectangular case wit

Square Piano 1835–38 John Tallman John Tallman was established as a piano builder on Barclay street in the late 1820s and 1830s and he appears in several City Directories from the time. He was one of many independent builders that could be found throughout New York City and other cities in the United States. Many of his surviving instruments, like this example at The Met, are decorated with ornately carved wood and gilt decorations and wood and brass inlays. The instrument sits on a stand that is similar to those of other New York makers of the time. Technical description: Rectangular case with rounded corners, of mahogany, mahogany veneer and rosewood veneer with gilded borders and designs of fruit, flowers and foliage, gilt brass moldings along front and sides, on carved gilded integral table stand with 2 drawers and 4 claw feet; pedal lyre with inset mirror mounted on stretcher; inside fallboard, 2 gilded sockets for candle holders; fretwork panels over well and soundboard at front of case on either side of keyboard; concave nameboard with inscription in black on gilt recessed panel; compass: FF-f4 (73 keys with top key having an 11 mm. wide key-like extension to fill gap at side of keywell), ivory naturals with molded fronts, ebony accidentals; 2 pedals, left operating piano stop, right lifting dampers; English double action with intermediate lever and escapement, top 24 keys on separate keyframe, crank dampers; tuning pins along spine; marbled iron plate with 4 oval cutouts holding hitchpins, with 5 too many hitchpins in plate suggesting alternate use in piano with compass to CC; top 14 pairs of strings pass through grooved plate instead of past nut pins; soundboard extending over keytails to left side; double strung from AA#, lowest 5 notes single strung; lowest 14 notes wound. (Laurence Libin, 8 Dec. 76). Square Piano. American. 1835–38. Various materials. New York, New York, United States. Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano

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