ADAM'S Country House Collections 15th October 2019

Tuesday 15 th October 337 536 AN IRISH GEORGE III SQUARE PIANO BY SAMUEL MORELAND, of 63 Mecklenburgh Street Lower, the case decorated with crossbanding, ebon stringing and applied brass mounts, opening to an ivory keyboard with panel inscription “ Improved patent Sam Moreland Grand and Square piano forte Manufacturer, 63 Lower Meck- lenburgh Street, Dublin ” with hand-painted gilt scroll and foliate decoration to each side, signed in ink with maker and firm address on soundboard, raised on ring turned baluster supports and brass castors. 174cm wide, 70cm deep, 82cm € 4,000 - 6,000 537 A SET OF EIGHT RED WALNUT FRAMED DINING CHAIRS IN THE CHIPPENDALE TASTE, with carved undulating crest rails above pierced and carved splats, each with unique needlepoint covered seats and raised on moulded square supports € 1,500 - 2,500 Piano maker Samuel Morland, whose workshops were in Mecklenburgh street Lower from 1809 to 1832, produced pianos and harpsichords in mahogany and rosewood. The National Museum has a dedicated 19th century music room in which some of Morland’s creations can be seen today. Home entertainment in the 19th century often revolved around the piano in the parlour, and Morland’s business thrived on this rapidly expanding home market. They are as much instruments of sound as items of furniture. Over time, square pianos were built in larger sizes with more keys and a wider range; by the 1830s, square grand pianos predominated, with changes to their internal mechanisms and construction that produced larger sounds and used higher string tensions. Square pianos were the most popular keyboard instrument of the late 18th century, however they were gradually replaced by upright pianos, which had a smaller footprint and larger sound.