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ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES |  |
New York - Steinway & Sons has introduced the Alma-Tadema grand piano re-creation, the first piano in its premier Legendary Collection, which offers one-of-a-kind re-creations of historical Steinway Art Case pianos.
"The Legendary Collection celebrates Steinway's tradition of creating the world's finest pianos," says Frank Mazurco, Steinway & Sons' executive vice president. "The combination of craftsmanship, creativity and skill that go into creating these instruments is truly an art form." However, the Legendary Collection isn't just a showcase for celebrated Steinway designs, Mazurco stresses. It also is meant "to impart a greater awareness about the history of Steinway and the history of the piano." And of course, for those fortunate few, the collection also enables them to own Steinway Art Case pianos that are found only in the Smithsonian Institution, The White House and other renowned cultural institutions around the world. The original Alma-Tadema Art Case Steinway - with fine-art decorations by world-famous artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema in 1887 - has been described by Christie's in London as "the most artistic piano ever produced." That, says Mazurco, made the Alma-Tadema Art Case an ideal candidate as the inaugural piano in Steinway's Legendary Collection." As one of the most famous Steinway piano ever made," Mazurco points out, "it was fitting that the Alma-Tadema be the first masterpiece recreated for the Legendary Collection." Priced at $675,000, the Alma-Tadema re-creation is an exacting re-creation of the original piano created more than a century earlier. In October of 2002 we sold the Alma-Tadema re-creation to Devoe Moore of Tallahassee Florida. It is currently on public display at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum, also owned by Moore. In 1997, the original Alma-Tadema was sold by Christie's at auction for $1.2 million, setting a record for a piano sold at auction. Future re-creations in the Legendary Collection will be chosen for their unique design and historical significance, Mazurco says. Every aspect of the original piano designs will be re-created as closely as possible, applying skills and techniques used to create the originals. The Alma-Tadema re-creation took more than 20 months to complete and was one of the most elaborate and expensive projects ever undertaken by Steinway & Sons. This grand piano features an intricately hand-carved case, lid and legs. It is encrusted with mother-of-pearl inlays, and above the keyboard is an elaborate rendering of Edward J. Poynter's The Wandering Minstrels topped by an arched brass lyre. The original Alma-Tadema bears serial number 54,538, while the Legendary Collection Alma-Tadema is numbered 554,538 - exactly 500,000 pianos later than the original. |
