26 exceptionally rare pianos to be sold by Newbury auction house Dreweatts
The sale of an extraordinary collection of rare pianos from the royal restorer and conservator of pianos to the Queen, David Winston, is taking place through Newbury auction house Dreweatts in September.
Each piano is a one-off because each has a fascinating backstory about the people who owned them or places they’ve been. One was bought directly from the iconic liner Mauretania 2, when it was decommissioned in 1965 (the largest liner in England at the time). One was bought in 1946 by concert pianist Madeleine Lioux, wife of the French novelist and politician Andre Malraux (1901-1976) and travelled everywhere with her, including back and forth across the Atlantic. Another features signatures from some of the greatest musicians of the time, including Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), the Polish pianist and composer who went on to become Prime Minister of Poland. They all have an extraordinary history. This is the first time that his entire collection will go on to the open market, making this a fantastic opportunity for collectors and musicians.
The pianos have been collected by one of the world’s foremost piano restorers, David Winston, who has restored some of the most valuable pianos in the world, including those owned and played by the greatest names in classical music, including Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt. David Winston has a connoisseur’s eye for exceptional quality and unusual provenance. Many of his pianos are one-off pieces with significant historic importance. His collection represents a lifetime’s passion coupled with an exceptional depth of knowledge and personal involvement. He says: “The first thing for me is that it must be something that nobody else has. It must be both an excellent musical instrument and a beautiful object. Each was chosen for its’ unique place in history, art and culture.”
A video of David Winston talking about his collection can be seen via this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIGD-OrkqhU
The collection includes 26 exceptionally rare and important pianos dating from the 18th century to present day. This landmark sale will take place on Thursday, September 23.
Among those expected to achieve the highest bids is a rare 1925 Pleyel grand piano fitted with an original ‘Auto Pleyela’ self-playing mechanism, in a spectacular Chinoiserie Louis XV case (estimate £40,000-£60,000) and a remarkable double piano from Pleyel, which is one of only 50 ever made. This model, which has a guide price of £40,000-£60,000, was once owned by the concert pianist wife of French writer and minister of culture André Malraux.
Dreweatts deputy chairman Will Richards said: “It is rare to see so many exquisite pianos together in one sale. We are proud to offer such an outstanding collection of instruments of such quality, history and craftsmanship. It is also very exciting, as this is the first time the collection has been offered in its entirety. Spanning three centuries of craftsmanship and innovation, this is a historic sale and a wonderful opportunity to own a piece of piano history.”
