Important Notice

Rosewood with metal hardware
Height: 40 in (101.6 cm)
Width: 60 in (152.4 cm)
Depth: 75 in (190.5 cm)

Accompanied by a piano stool



A beautifully proportioned grand piano in a rosewood case centered by a pierced music board, lyre-shaped pedestal support, hinged top, supported by three baluster legs terminating in brass castors stamped with serial number 34744495. Originally imported into India by H Hobbs & Co, Calcutta.

The powerful sway masterpieces such as F??r Elise and Moonlight Sonata hold over us, centuries after they were composed, is hard to fathom. Or, perhaps, even more difficult to imagine are Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin seated at the piano, penning their sonatas and waltzes. The current lot, a magnificent rosewood grand piano, bears the name of John Broadwood & Sons, the reputed piano manufacturer whose pianos were used at different points by these three leading composers.

Founded in 1728 by Burkat Shudi, who moved to London from Switzerland in 1718, John Broadwood & Sons are a famous English piano manufacturer. Broadwood made instruments for every British monarch since King George II, and have held the Royal Warrant for the longest period. Following Shudi's death in 1773, John Broadwood, his son-in-law, took over the business. The firm, initially focussing on producing harpsichords, began to increase their manufacture of pianos after the popularity of the harp began to decline, and abandoned it altogether in 1793. In 1795, the firm began to trade as John Broadwood & Son when John Broadwood's elder son James Shudi Broadwood joined the business. In 1808, the firm was renamed 'John Broadwood & Sons', when John's second son, Thomas, also joined.

Broadwood???s pianos have a rich history that extends beyond being favoured by the monarchs. In 1817, Thomas Broadwood met Beethoven, and gifted him a 6 octave grand pianoforte made from Spanish mahogany. The same piano was later owned by Franz Liszt, and is now part of the National Museum of History in Budapest, Hungary. Thirty-one years later, when Chopin visited the Royal Family in England, he was provided a Broadwood & Sons piano. Broadwood & Sons garnered numerous accolades and won many awards throughout the 19th century.

Today, the Surrey History Centre in Woking holds an extensive database of archives on the company.


Rosewood with metal hardware
Height: 40 in (101.6 cm)
Width: 60 in (152.4 cm)
Depth: 75 in (190.5 cm)

Accompanied by a piano stool



A beautifully proportioned grand piano in a rosewood case centered by a pierced music board, lyre-shaped pedestal support, hinged top, supported by three baluster legs terminating in brass castors stamped with serial number 34744495. Originally imported into India by H Hobbs & Co, Calcutta.

The powerful sway masterpieces such as F??r Elise and Moonlight Sonata hold over us, centuries after they were composed, is hard to fathom. Or, perhaps, even more difficult to imagine are Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin seated at the piano, penning their sonatas and waltzes. The current lot, a magnificent rosewood grand piano, bears the name of John Broadwood & Sons, the reputed piano manufacturer whose pianos were used at different points by these three leading composers.

Founded in 1728 by Burkat Shudi, who moved to London from Switzerland in 1718, John Broadwood & Sons are a famous English piano manufacturer. Broadwood made instruments for every British monarch since King George II, and have held the Royal Warrant for the longest period. Following Shudi's death in 1773, John Broadwood, his son-in-law, took over the business. The firm, initially focussing on producing harpsichords, began to increase their manufacture of pianos after the popularity of the harp began to decline, and abandoned it altogether in 1793. In 1795, the firm began to trade as John Broadwood & Son when John Broadwood's elder son James Shudi Broadwood joined the business. In 1808, the firm was renamed 'John Broadwood & Sons', when John's second son, Thomas, also joined.

Broadwood???s pianos have a rich history that extends beyond being favoured by the monarchs. In 1817, Thomas Broadwood met Beethoven, and gifted him a 6 octave grand pianoforte made from Spanish mahogany. The same piano was later owned by Franz Liszt, and is now part of the National Museum of History in Budapest, Hungary. Thirty-one years later, when Chopin visited the Royal Family in England, he was provided a Broadwood & Sons piano. Broadwood & Sons garnered numerous accolades and won many awards throughout the 19th century.

Today, the Surrey History Centre in Woking holds an extensive database of archives on the company.