Clementi Pianoforte

Mahogany grand piano, with fillets and rims in lignum vitae. Three double legs, two wooden pedals at some distance from one another and an ivory and ebony keyboard. Next to the keyboard is the inscription: “New Patent/Muzio Clementi & Co/Cheapside London” Stamped with the words “Clementi, Muzio - nº de instrumento 185” Muzio Clementi was born in Rome on 23 January 1752 and died in Evesham, Worcestershire, on 10 March 1832. A famous composer and pianist, he was christened the “father of the pianoforte”. Together with several partners, he founded Clementi and Co., a company which manufactured high-quality instruments with very carefully finished exteriors. Little by little, Clementi acquired his partners’ shares in the business, the only one left being Collard, with whom he joined forces to compete with the prestigious Broadwood piano factory. After Clementi’s death, the company took the name of Collard and Collard, until it was taken over by Chappel and Co. in the first half of the 20th century. Muzio Clementi was a friend and publisher of the Portuguese composer Domingos Bontempo.