Restored 5’7″ 1935 Steinway M PianoDisc Kitchen Square Walnut Satin (WS) Player Grand Piano
The Birth of the “Kitchen Piano”
The legendary first grand piano crafted by Steinweg earned its unusual name because it was built in the kitchen of his Seesen home. This secret location was necessary because local regulations restricted Steinweg’s official workshop to repairs only, forbidding him from constructing new instruments there. This innovative “off-site” project was, in effect, a “homer” project.
Innovation and Early Recognition
Despite its humble beginnings, the Steinway Kitchen Piano was an expertly crafted instrument, representing the pinnacle of piano-making at the time. This quality was officially recognized in 1839 when Steinweg exhibited the piano at the Brunswick State Fair and was awarded a gold medal for his efforts.
The Kitchen Piano’s significance stems not only from its status as the first “Steinway” grand piano but also from the numerous design innovations it featured, which substantially improved the instrument’s performance, reliability, and sound quality.
The piano firmly established Steinweg’s reputation, leading to a surge in demand for his instruments. While it is rumored that the Duke of Brunswick was so impressed he commissioned a piano, this claim lacks firm evidence.
Emigration and the Founding of Steinway & Sons
Steinweg and his sons went on to build nearly 500 pianos in Seesen. However, political instability and financial hardship prompted Steinweg and some of his family to emigrate to America in 1850 in search of better opportunities.
Initially, he faced challenges, but through a combination of skill, determination, and a timely stroke of luck (a strike at the Bacon & Raven piano factory), he persevered. He “Americanized” his name to Henry E. Steinway and, in 1853, founded the iconic Steinway & Sons at 85 Varick Street, New York City.
(The story of what happened next is beyond the scope of this article, but interested readers can consult the reference books listed at the end.)
The Kitchen Piano Today
The original Steinway Kitchen Piano is still in existence and is currently owned by Steinway & Sons. Although it was previously housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, it is presently on loan to MIM (the Musical Instrument Museum) in Phoenix, Arizona, where it is a featured part of the museum’s special Steinway exhibit.
In 2006, the celebrated piano builder Chris Maene created three exact replicas of the instrument. One of these replicas can be viewed at the Museum Headquarters “Piano Maene” in Ruiselede, Belgium. The entire process of its creation was documented by filmmaker Bram Cross in his documentary, “Building a Legend.”
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