Description
A George III Square Piano Case dated 1796, later converted from an instrument to a piece of painted furniture, reputedly for John Fowler; the Co-founder of the renowned interior designers Colefax & Fowler (with note regarding the ownership attribution). The exterior hand painted in the Neo-Classical style with swagged chains of bell flowers and undulating scrolls of foliage around the borders on a cream ground. The facia board centred by an oval maple reserve inscribed Johannes Preston, Londini Fecit 1796, No. 97 Strand above the 68 note keyboard now fixed and painted. The hinged rectangular lid rising to reveal figures in a garden landscape with follies, including an artist stood at easel to the lower right; his canvas inscribed; ‘Painted by Arthur Smith July 1948’. The partitioned box-form interior painted dark green with red coach lines, and housing compartmented tray. Standing on square tapering legs with spade feet, 32¼” (82 cm) high, 65¼” (166 cm) wide, 24½” (62 cm) deep.