The Home Beautiful: The Haschka Grand Piano, 1815-20

Piano with Scene of Samson and the Lion
Vienna, 1815-20
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Around 1800, Viennese pianos were among the most prized—celebrated for their delicate tone and ease of playing. These pianos were often outfitted, as this one is, with a number of pedals which were designed to create special musical effects such as drums and bells. This example was made between 1815 and 1820 by Georg Haschka (1772-1828)—proprietor of a small workshop in Vienna. Interestingly, this piano was owned by Sir William Quiller Orchardson R.A. (1832-1910), an eminent Scottish painter, who depicted it in his painting, “A Tender Chord.”

The instrument is housed in a pinewood case which is veneered with mahogany on the outside and satinwood on the inside. It features gilt highlighting and ormolu mounts and pedals as well as a painted lid and name-board which illustrates a scene of Samson and the Lion.

The piano is marked, “Georg Haschka in Wien George Hashka in Vienna.”