A Regency rosewood and cut brass inlaid baby grand piano by John Broadwood & Sons

signed in pencil Hendley and numbered 13932

Footnotes

Broadwood and Sons are an English piano manufacturer, founded in 1728 by Burkat Shudi and continued after his death in 1773 by John Broadwood. In 1740 Shudi built a harpsichord for Frederick, Prince of Wales (now in Kew Palace). Other instruments were made for his father King George II, and Broadwoods have made instruments for every British monarch since. John Broadwood was a Scottish joiner and cabinetmaker, who came to London in 1761 and began to work for the Swiss harpsichord manufacturer Burkat Shudi. In 1770 he became a partner in the firm having married Shudi's daughter. As the popularity of the harpsichord declined, the firm concentrated increasingly on the manufacture of pianos, and abandoned the harpsichord altogether in 1793. In 1795, the firm began to trade as John Broadwood & Son with the introduction of John Broadwood's elder son James Shudi Broadwood. In 1808 the firm became 'John Broadwood & Sons', with the introduction of John Broadwood's second son, Thomas. In 1821 the firm delivered a grand piano to King George IV at Brighton Pavilion of rosewood with brass inlay.

Provenance: By repute from the collection of Lord Lilford, Lilford Hall and then to Warwick Castle. Lilford Hall, Northamptonshire was the home of the Elmes family from 1635 to 1711, and then the Powys family (Baron Lilford) from 1711 to 1990. Lilford Hall is now the home of the Micklewright family.
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire was built by William the Conqueror in 1068. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978.