Knabe Mignonette Model Baby Grand Piano
William Knabe & Company is known for building some of the finest pianos in America. Knabe was the official piano of the Metropolitan Opera; their pianos were known for having a sweet and harmonious tone which made them ideal for vocal accompaniment.
$20,000 after total restoration
(not including applicable sales tax & shipping charges)
Year: 1915
Length: 5 feet, 2 inches
Finish: Ribbon Mahogany
Status: Pending Restoration
Sold
Instrument Description
This lovely little piano was the smallest baby grand piano offered by Knabe, and was sold as the "Style H Mignonette Horizontal Grand" in its 1915 sales catalog (see photos). This piano was sold as the direct competitor to the Chickering "Quarter Grand", and was designed to be petite and formal in appearance for smaller homes and apartments.
This piano is made of "Ribbon Mahogany" wood, a special cut of mahogany that boasts a beautifully pronounced grain pattern that is visually stunning. The beautifully grained wood is hidden under the old deteriorated finish, but if you look closely at the photos you can get a sense of how beautiful this piano will be after restoration. These old finishes chemically break down over the years, causing them to become dark and scaly over time.
Note the clean yet detailed design of the music rack and legs. This sweeping design does away with sharp corners, offering a softer, more elegant look and feel rather than a square and "blocky" look that many pianos have. This piano is being rebuilt & refinished to like new condition, inside and out, and will match the tone and touch of any higher priced new piano. A new quality grand piano of similar size such as a Steinway or Yamaha would cost two to three times as much as this piano! This piano comes with a matching bench, and can be fitted with a computerized player mechanism if desired.
Instrument Catalogs
Knabe Catalog 1870
Rare Victoran era illustrated sales catalog for William Knabe & Company, circa 1870
Knabe Catalog 1915
Early 20th Century Illustrated Sales Catalog For The William Knabe & Company, Circa 1915
Miscellaneous Ephemera
19th Century Knabe Advertisements
Middle & Late 19th Century Advertisements For The Knabe Piano Company
20th Century Knabe Advertisements
Early 20th Century Advertisements for the Wm. Knabe Piano Company
Knabe Newspaper Article
19th Century Newspaper Article Featuring The William Knabe Piano Company, Circa 1864
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