Object No.
2002/70/1Object Statement
Square piano, timber / metal / fabric, made for Francis Ellard of Sydney by [Collard & Collard], London, England, 1835-1838Physical Description
Square piano, timber / metal / fabric, made for Francis Ellard of Sydney by [Collard & Collard], London, England, 1835-1838
Square piano with six octave compass from F to F. Solid timber case with fold-back lid that can be supported at each end by lid sticks. Part iron plate inside, over-dampers and square-ended wrest pins. Lowest octave strung as single strings with the rest strung as bichord. Rear left hand side of soundboard has the number '1673' stamped into timber. Below this is the number '32142' written in black ink. To the right of these numbers is 'No 9' as a black stencil. The name board directly behind the keyboard is made of Abura wood and features two decorative carved lattice panels with fabric backing. The centre of the board has the label 'Manufactured expressly for F Ellard Sydney'. Either side of this are sheet music pins to support music on the music stand. The music stand folds down at the back of the name board. The piano stands on four turned legs on castors. A single pedal is attached beneath. The letters 'FC' appear on the soundboard. The donor says one of the keys has the inscription 'Have sold sixty of these'. Paper labels have been attached to the back of the nameboard by the donor. The caster to the rear treble side leg has been removed.Marks
Stamped at rear left hand side of soundboard '1673'
Written underneath in black ink '32142'
Painted in black ink 'No9'
Label on nameboard 'Manufactured expressly for F. ELLARD Sydney'
Engraved into soundboard, 'FC'
Stamped into timber to left of nameboard, 'I/44'
White paper label on back of nameboard attached by donor, printed in black 'W. F. Bradshaw Pty. Ltd. / (A.B.N number) / ESTABLISHED 1941 / CLOCKS - ANTIQUES - FURNITURE / (telephone and fax number) / (address) / This square piano, was sold to the T.W. McPhillamy family of Bathurst, on the / 29th January 1838 and was in the drawing room of their homestead "Fosters Valley" house, and remained in the room, where it was placed in 1838, until it / was sold to me on 31st May 1999. It was probably made by Frederick Collard, / for F. Ellard Sydney as it has stamped into the rest plate F.C.'
White paper label attached by donor, 'There is a note, on the end top key, in Ellard handwriting. / (signature of donor and date)'