Manufacture of antique pianos

Replicas of early keyboard instruments

The Watzek piano workshop in Vienna is specialized in the manufacture of historical pianos on the pattern of original antique pianos. The making of a new piano by a professional piano maker is as much about craft as about art. With around 1,000 hours of work plus all the drying time for the varnish, the waiting while putting on the piano frame and many additional required waiting times - the manufacturing of one piano takes around 8 to 12 months, from plans to completion. Although nowadays many stages of the fabrication are taken on by a component supplying industry, piano making still requires a lot of personal involvement as well as high technical skills - this is why a piano maker's biggest force is his love for his job. Every piano is stamped with its maker's personality.

Johann Schantz pianoforte

made in Watzek's piano workshop in Vienna

Dimensions: length: 220 cm / width: 106 cm / height without its feet: 26 cm

Description: replica of a pianoforte made in Johann Schantz's workshop around 1796 / cherry veneer and polished / striped ebony around the piano's body / Viennese action / keyboard compass: F4 - C7 / black keys in ebony / white keys in ox bone / leather-covered historical dampers: F4 to C7 / 2 knee swells (moderator and forte) / 5 square feet

Pitch: A4 = 420 Hz - 443 Hz

Price: 60,000 euros, including 20% VAT

Historical pianoforte by Watzek

made in Watzek's piano workshop in Vienna

Dimensions: length: 220 cm / width: 102 cm / height without its feet: 24 cm

Description: replica of an anonymous pianoforte made around 1790 / cherry veneer and polished / solid cherry wood top / inlaid work on the wrest plank / Viennese action / keyboard compass: F4 - F6 / black keys in ebony / white keys in ox bone / leather-covered historical dampers: F4 to F6 / 2 knee swells (moderator and forte) / 5 square feet

Pitch: A4 = 420 Hz - 443 Hz

Price: 56,000 euros, including 20% VAT