PRESS RELEASE________________________________________________________________APRIL 2010

The furniture session of the upcoming April Auction will form part of Session Two, starting at 14h00 on Tuesday 20 April. This will be the second of the five sessions which comprise the two day, one thousand lot sale on 20 &21 April. The overall session sequencing of this auction has been changed slightly, and the way the furniture section gets going is considerably, different, as well.

The first lot of Session two is Lot 170, a mahogany-cased concert grand piano by John Broadwood & Sons of London, circa 1914. The piano bears the registration number 52719, has been reconditioned, and stands on square tapering legs with brass cappings and castors, boasting the impressive overall dimensions of 265cm long and 157,5cm wide. Its pre-sale estimate is R50 000 - R60 000.

Lot 170  Pre-sale estimate R50 000 - R60 000

                                                                            SOLD FOR R75 600

John Broadwood & Sons is the oldest and one of the most prestigious piano companies in the world. The company holds the Royal Warrant as manufacturer of pianos to Queen Elizabeth

As a musical instrument category, pianos have their own unique route to market acceptance. They were developed across Europe during the 18th century. The earliest ones to come to London were 'square' pianos. John Broadwood, a Scottish joiner and cabinetmaker, came to London in 1761 and began to work for the Swiss harpsichord manufacturer Burkat Shudi. Broadwood married Shudi's daughter eight years later and became a partner in the firm in 1770. John Broadwood, together with another Scot, Robert Stodart, and a Dutchman, Americus Backers, designed a piano in the harpsichord case - the origin of the 'grand'. They achieved this in about 1777. As the popularity of the harpsichord declined, the firm concentrated increasingly on the manufacture of pianos, abandoning the harpsichord altogether in 1793. Broadwood's son, James Shudi Broadwood, had worked for the firm since 1785, and, in 1795, the firm began to trade as John Broadwood & Son. When Broadwood's third son, Thomas Broadwood, became a partner in 1808, the firm assumed the name of John Broadwood & Sons Ltd, which it retains to this day.

For further information, please contact 011 880 3125.