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Sometimes pianos are as beautiful to look at as they are to hear and play.

This one really caught my eye as being classic and innovative.

It was designed by Dakota Jackson in celebration of the 160th anniversary of S&S.

I hope you will enjoy it.



Here is a link to a video which shows more of the details.

S&S Arabesque

It is also fun to browse some of the other limited edition pianos.

Some very interesting and attractive features, to be sure.

However, the lyre doesn't work for me. While I can appreciate that a piano lyre can be a challenge to re-design to blend with a certain case style, even the elite designers rarely seem to attain a happy marriage in this regards. This piano is a case in point. The lyre looks like it was borrowed from a different piano altogether. Come on guys, you get the big bucks for being star designers, now get with the program!

I think Steinway had a pedal lyre design that was something like this in the 50s, (was it the centennial edition) right? And if it was copied from another piano, then what piano did it copy from?

I didn't notice the lyre until you pointed it out. It's a little subdued this way--makes the three legs really distinct in my opinion. Looks pretty good!

Yes, I believe so. Lyre was metal. Very similar design. The piano also had round brass ferrules instead of spade legs. A "contemporary" design after some fashion.

I suspect the lyre was designed to echo, so to speak, the racing stripes on the side of the piano. Or vice versa.

It's different, I'd love to have one... but I have ONE minor issue.. why in the living heck, S&S NY doesn't use REAL ebony on the sharps of the "B" and "A"s.....

I found the link showing more of the details to be especially fascinating. The picture in the OP makes the piano look like it is ebonized but it seems as if the piano is really in macassar ebony according to the detail in the links? I think the curved prop stick has been used in other Steinway art case pianos.

I have never seen another piano where the front of the arms jut out towards the pianist. The legs of the Arabesque are particular amazing and,in my experience, unique.

It's absolutely gorgeous! and I think they make it in both ebony and macassar finishes.

It's nice looking, but two things about it bother me: the racing stripes, and the fact that it has nothing to do with arabesque designs.

Gorgeous piano, but I don't understand what's going on with the lid. There seem to be two continuous hinges where the lid folds back to uncover the desk. I can't imagine why they would do that.

Also, the piano looks to be a B, but they never explicitly identify the model on the web page. Other art case pianos are identified. I presume they want to keep their options open(?)

Larry.

Hi Larry,

I don't think the way the lid is double (?) hinged is anything other than pure design.

It is one of the things that caught my eye.

It bothers me to see someone using a shaper without eye protection!

Could have been called a Shelby Steinway.

I like it.

I LOVE the racing stripes. How fast does it go?

0-Kissin in 2 beats flat.

Clever!

A customer of mine loved the idea of the design of this Steinway, especially the cool lidprop. But he loved the tone of a Bosendorfer. Here is the solution:





But wait! This custom lid prop goes one better. We included a ball joint hinge, so it is reversible:





Fun, huh?

YIKES! That second photo looks like a lid crash waiting to happen.

Larry.

Just an optical illusion, Larry. It is a solid piece of maple that isn't going anywhere.