Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Rare Find: Bronze Casts of the Hands of Franz Liszt

This is part of my dad's collection of rare music-related objects. From my dad's old blog: "They were made in 1859 by Barbedienne in Paris. They have been authenticated by two Liszt experts who were able to match elements like distinctive webbing and a small mole on the fourth finger of the right hand which were known features of Liszt hands. As far as we know they are one of a kind as the Liszt museum in Budapest has only a plaster cast of a single hand made very late in the life of the composer. We have yet to find similar examples. We bought them from a very elderly pianist in Manhattan (name withheld) who claimed the hands were originally owned by Arthur Friedheim though she refused to say how they came to her family--only that her mother and Friedman had been "very close".

You say that your dad has more rare music artefacts. Is it his hobby or job?

It is his hobby. He is a collector. He has traveled to more than 80 countries and collected things along the way.

Just back from 2 Liszt Museums. One in Bayreuth and one in Weimar, Germany. Both very interesting. I believe both museums had a single hand cast in plaster. I remember holding my hand up to the one in the case for comparison. Did not see bronze casts though. We we allowed to play a Liszt grand in Bayreuth.

Unusual to have the fourth finger longer than the third finger, I think?

Great stuff. Looks like something out of one of those old Vincent Price horror movies.

But if you account for the third being bent and not extended to its full length, it may actually be longer. To me it looks like that is in fact the case. Nothing unusual.

You wonder if these are live casts. Hard to position the hands like this post mortem.

Oh it isn't. The third finger is arched--might not show clearly in the picture.

Yes, in the fourth picture the third finger of the left hand doesn't look arched, but I can clearly see it is in the earlier pictures.

I don't know, I find those things a little creepy. I wouldn't want them in my house...

They were not made after his death or any time near his death. For famous pianists it was common to have their hands cast in bronze rather than just busts created.

You notice how they seem to follow you around the room?

He is actually playing a chord on the piano. I will try to get someone to take a picture of me holding them on the keyboard so you can see which chord it is.

Now we'll have a thread whether or not emotions are involved and if they exist in the listener or the hands.

Wow what a stunning find, If they are totally authentic, then it appears that so far anyways you do have a "one off" and as such could litterally ask what ever you want for them, at the absolute minimum, you can get the Piano of your dreams from these hands..
And how fitting would that be?
Liszts hands provide First class top notch Piano (He would be totally proud of this)
And Liszts hands get to be in museum where they belong for the public to see.

This is a staggeringly important find, I am green with envy.

Actually, strike that, "Mrs Rossy" (being a woman!) has come up with a better Idea, this is what she said "He could get them recast, and sell the recasts, earning him the Piano of his dreams AND allowing him to keep them as well"

Like having cake and eating it. I defer to mrs Rossy and her Archeological training, she is now comparing the plaster cast with the bronze for interest!

Whatever you do, do not polish them!

Recasting sounds like a great idea. After a mold is made, subsequent copies could be made out of various materials other than bronze. And I, too, would strongly caution against polishing these.

Wow! That is amazing. How do you cast your hands in bronze?

That must have really hurt!

1.) make a mold of your hands, 2.) pour the melted bronze into the mold, and 3.) break off the mold.