Burne-Jones family piano

Panel above keyboard

Panel below the keyboard

The piano was "made by Frederick Priestley, an otherwise unknown piano maker, and given as a wedding present to Edward Burne-Jones in 1860. He subsequently decorated it with a scene from the Medieval Romance, the 'Chant d'Amour' and an allegory of death. In her biography, 'The Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones', his wife referred to a picture of Death on the panel below the keyboard, 'standing outside the gate of a garden where a number of girls, unconscious of his approach, are resting and listening to music'."
- courtesy The Victoria & Albert Museum

(detail from image above)

American oak case, painted with shellac varnish
Length 127 cm
Height 93.5 cm
Depth 47 cm
Museum no. W.43-1926
Given by Mrs J. W. Mackail, daughter of the artist
Gallery location: Musical Instruments, room 40a, case BY5

The only information I found about Frederick Priestley gave information about a patent "for improvements in piano-fortes [Dated 16th April, 1856]" - it gave his address as Cleveland-street, Fitzroy-square.

Georgiana Burne-Jones at the piano

Georgiana Burne-Jones at the piano

By Sir Edward Burne-Jones
with inscription 'G B-J by E B-J'
(on an old label attached to the backboard)
pencil
3¾ x 3 7/8 in. (9.5 x 9.8 cm.)

"... Georgie was a talented muscian, playing the piano well and possessing a good singing voice, with which she would render the early songs and border ballards so popular in her circle at this date. The piano she plays in our drawing is reminiscent of the small upright, made by Priestly of Berners Street in unpolished American walnut, which was given to her as a wedding present and decorated by Burne-Jones. The instrument is now in the Victoria & Albert Museum." - from the catalogue notes