Square piano 1783

This square piano was crafted by Adam Beyer, though we don't have a date for it. Imagine for a moment the world in which this piano was a prized possession. It likely sat in the parlors of the burgeoning middle class, a symbol of domesticity and refinement. The piano itself, with its delicate keyboard and ornate details, speaks to a specific kind of femininity that was so desired at the time. The act of playing music, especially for women, became intertwined with notions of social grace and virtue. But consider, too, the labor and resources that went into creating such an instrument. What of the hands that felled the trees, crafted the wood, or even those that might have toiled to keep the household running so the lady of the house had time to play? This piano is an intimate object that invites us to reflect on the complex social relations embedded in even the most seemingly innocuous aspects of our cultural heritage.