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Royal piano restorer David Winston to auction his personal collection of rare pianos
By Tempus | 16 August 2021 | Culture
The official Conservator of Pianos to HM the Queen, Winston’s collection features 26 astonishing pianos from across the ages
A private collection of ultra-rare pianos owned by David Winston, Restorer and Conservator of Pianos to HM the Queen, will go up for auction in September at Dreweatts auctioneers.
The collection includes 26 exceptionally rare and important pianos dating from the 18th century to present day, and will go up for sale on Thursday 23 September 2021.
Amongst those expected to achieve the highest bids is a rare 1925 Pleyel grand piano (pictured above) 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.
Speaking about the sale, Will Richards, Deputy Chairman of Dreweatts 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.”
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. Commenting, 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.”
Among other highlights in the sale is a Wurlitzer 1411 Butterfly grand (pictured above) – at only 4’1” it is one of the smallest 88 note grand pianos ever made. It features an iconic case design, making it one of the most highly sought-after Art Deco instruments of all time (estimate £10,000-£15,000). Another is the first piano ever built by Winston; a stunning Viennese Fortepiano created in 1991, based on an original by Joseph Brodmann from 1823. A remarkable instrument, the piano has been used internationally in many recordings and concerts by some of the world’s leading musicians (estimate £15,000-£20,000).
Other covetable instruments include a handsome ship’s piano with folding keyboard, purchased by the RAF WWI Flying ace Captain Norman Macmillan for his wife, the Music Hall singer, Ena Beaumont (estimate £1,500-£2,000).