The 10 Most Expensive Grand Pianos Money Can Buy
In the 17th century, an Italian instruments builder named Bartolomeo Cristofori created the piano. An accurate term would be “gravicembalo col piano e forte,” a keyboard that can make soft and loud notes. The piano is not an ordinary instrument; it will enchant you immediately. You’ll be so engrossed that you’ll let the piano control your fingers like puppets on a string. Among the most often used musical instruments is the piano. Many musicians are superb pianists, and they enhance any style of music.
Some of the most famous musicians in history have demonstrated their piano-playing prowess on stage, and most travel with their pianos. Customization is a general occurrence in the ultra-luxury market. People want customized products that are produced to order for anything from vehicles and jets to high-tech devices and house couture perfume. So it makes sense that a client would treat a significant investment like a grand piano with the same level of commitment and love. Here are the 10 most expensive grand pianos money can buy.
10. Bluthner Lucid Exo – $960,000
The Lucid Exo piano, created by MONAD Studio with assistance from Bluthner, is the first instrument of its kind to be printed in 3D in its entirety. This magnificent artwork, printed with a composite alloy, questions our assumptions about what a grand piano should look like. According to Luxatic, this piano is as much a genius’s creation thanks to how its rippling exoskeleton can take on any number of forms while still being immediately recognized. Those privileged enough to see EXO only once can never forget it, and the lucky owner will always be in possession of the world’s finest high-tech grand piano.
Even if the names of the company’s clients aren’t advertised, the piano’s widespread popularity among the world’s best pianists is evident from the many copies already in existence. Blüthner’s custom Lucid line features a wide variety of models, each with its unique price tag; however, the EXO is the most expensive model at about $1,000,000.
9. C. Bechstein Sphinx – $1.2 Million
Due in large part to Germany’s long history of making pianos and harpsichords, German pianos are frequently the most expensive anywhere on the planet. However, the C. Bechstein Sphinx is on a completely different level. The 130-year-old C. Bechstein Sphinx piano is replicated in the C. Bechstein Sphinx Grand Piano. Even yet, the Sphinx was created with extraordinary skill and attention to detail, staying as true as possible to the ancient Sphinx images. Its design is reminiscent of bygone eras and is made from some of the world’s most luxurious and aesthetically beautiful materials and components.
The various bronze and gold fixtures and fittings are set off brilliantly by the rich dark oak cabinetry. It is a must-have for any lover of 19th-century French fashion or classical music since it oozes that era’s traditional luxury and royal rank. According to Luxury Pianos, this piano is a logical option for affluent music lovers, as it is a great match to wood-paneled parlor spaces and refined estate libraries. As a result, the C. Bechstein Sphinx copy currently costs slightly over $1 million. It took 32 months and 1800 hours to create the replica.
8. Kuhn Bosendorfer – $1.2 Million
With its glossy black lacquer and sparkling diamonds, Bösendorfer’s Kuhn Grand Piano stands out as one of the most distinctive pianos on the market. Bosendorfer Klaviefabrik and the renowned glass sculptor John Kuhn worked together on this piano. Kuhn said collaborating with Bosendorfer on this amazing piano was a career highlight. Each of the one hundred thousand gems in this piece was polished using glasses cut by hand. In addition, the crown is embellished with gems and gold leaves in a diamond design. The goal was to make something exceptionally rare, focusing on appealing to female tastes. This tall, sleek black stone is 7 feet, 4 inches of pure elegance and sophistication. This is a sophisticated work of art that would be appreciated by everyone who has the opportunity to be in its presence.
7. Galaxy Piano – $1.36 Million
Galaxy Instruments United Arab Emirates released Galaxy Piano to cater to their high-end clientele. Germany was the source of some key components of the instrument. In spite of its appearance, which could lead one to believe that it is a fictitious instrument, the Galaxy piano is a real instrument. To put its sale price of $1.36 million into perspective, this piano ranks as the fifth most costly ever purchased. According to Euro Pianos Naples, the highly futuristic piano has a 24-karat gold-plated fiberglass body, making it ideal for people with a keen eye for aesthetics. In addition, it has a self-closing lid and rounded keys.
The piano is the first and sole instrument of its kind, and its cover raises automatically, and the keyboard is curved, setting it apart from all others. Additionally, the Galaxy Piano features an auto-play mechanism that can be managed using an iPad as the controller. To put it another way, the Galaxy Piano was not intended to be played but rather appreciated because of its rounded beauty, even though it is functional. Unfortunately, only five of these pianos were made, so if you want one, you’ll have to find its current owners and negotiate a price with them directly.
6. Steinway & Sons Fibonacci – $2.4 Million
The Fibonacci sequence, named after its creators, Fibonacci and his sons, is a well-known mathematical formula that Leonardo of Pisa supposedly developed to show that numbers grow in a manner that resembles a spiral, a shape used by numerous creatives to describe patterns in the world going back to the 1200s. The result is a piano with a striking hardwood spiral motif, designed by Frank Pollaro. According to Pianist Magazine, the exterior is crafted from exotic woods and intricately engraved using time-honored intarsia methods, in which individual design elements are laser-cut and then slotted into place using templates in a manner reminiscent of a jigsaw puzzle.
More than 6,000 man-hours and four years were put into creating the Fibonacci piano. As a matter of fact, the piano was produced to mark the production of the 600,000th piano by the firm. Fibonacci and Mr. Steinway would be quite pleased with this work of art. This is among the most exquisite and expensive pianos, costing over $2 million.
5. Steinway & Sons Pictures at an Exhibition – $2.5 Million
It is among the most expensive piano in the world and was painted by artist Paul Wyse. However, the $2.5 million asking price for the piano is reasonable in light of the piece of art it displays. This piano takes its name from Modest Mussorgsky’s groundbreaking work, Pictures at an Exhibition, and is meant to evoke the sensation of moving from one exhibit to the next. To give a Steinway Model D piano a more attractive and royal air, artist Paul Wyse decorated it with numerous motifs.
The artwork features depictions of Modest Mussorgsky, whose piano compositions may transport listeners on a journey through Russian history and culture. The piano’s legs resemble enchanted Russian cuckoo clocks, while the bespoke bench is carved in a medieval Russian folk art style. The museum-quality masterpiece is currently available for purchase through Steinway Vault.
4. Heintzman Crystal Piano – 3.22 Million
While Steinway & Sons labored over what they hoped would be the world’s most costly piano, Heintzman’s Crystal Grand has already surpassed its price. It was initially used in the open at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where the legendary pianist Lang Lang worked his magic on it. Unfortunately, the instrument was retired after the performance and sold at auction for an astounding $3.22 million to an undisclosed buyer. According to Play the Tunes, this piano’s portability is hectic, which is why it only appeared once to the public before getting sold. Nevertheless, the price tag is justified because this wonderful item is a work of art.
Other than the keyboard and soundboard, it is made entirely out of crystal. The Canadian manufacturer almost made this piano the most costly in history. But a piano built from fond memories of Paris and a beautiful friendship trumped it, not a more expensive work of art. It is impressive how much people are willing to pay for a piece of art as this shows their appreciation of art and the artists that do such amazing works, especially when you factor in how truly original and aesthetically pleasing the piano’s design is.
3. John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z – $2.37 Million
John Lennon bought this Steinway Model Z piano in 1970 for about £1,000. It is famous for its apparent simplicity. When viewed in this light, it does not appear to be anything out of the norm. Even the artist himself has stained it by leaving behind a series of cigarette burns on the piece. Even though having such a typical appearance and such unsightly scarring may cause the price of most instruments to drop, the fact that this Model Z piano has them makes it truly unique. The fact that John Lennon played its ivory keys and that it is the piano on which he composed the classic song “Imagine” contributed to the sale price of $2.37 million. George Michael himself outbid the Oasis siblings and Robbie Williams to acquire this historic musical artifact.
Later, he caved into the weight of responsibility with such an important possession and handed it to the Beatles Story Museum, but not before utilizing it to inspire some new songs that pay homage to the era. Over the past few years, this is the second piece of Beatles artifacts to sell for over $2 million. The drum kit owned by Ringo Starr achieved a new record high at auction in 2015, selling for $2.1 million. The piano that John Lennon played is a physical reminder of his musical talent and amazing life. As such, it is a national monument and the fulfillment of a dream come true for any Beatles fan. Because of this, prospective purchasers are more than eager to spend millions of dollars to acquire it.
2. The Casablanca Piano – $3.4 Million
Movie relics can fetch exorbitant prices at auction. While most movie props cost between $100 and $1,000 to produce, the real deal from the set can fetch tens of thousands, if not millions. Even if a duplicate prop or costume can appear and feel identical to the real thing, nothing can substitute an item that has had direct contact with a Hollywood star. For example, the timeless love classic Casablanca is widely regarded as one of the most iconic movies of all time and one of the most important films ever made for various reasons. This legendary film from 1942 with legendary actors such as Ingrid Bergman and
Humphrey Bogart featured this piano in the film.
The Casablanca piano, a compact wheeled upright delicately painted with a Scandinavian-inspired folk look, epitomizes this ideal. According to The Most Expensive, the appearance of the piano itself isn’t particularly impressive, especially when contrasted with an extravagant grand piano. However, the picture’s relevance in society, history, and filmmaking cannot be emphasized. It is always fun for a film fan to have memorabilia of the film as it helps makes them feel connected to the film even after its completion.
1. As Time Goes By – $3.4 Million
The piano had gained a great deal of notoriety due to the staggering amount of money paid for it when it was sold at auction in 2014. There were a total of two of them, and one was used in the production of the film “Casablanca” in 1942. Following its sale at auction, the piano quickly rose to rank among the most valuable pianos ever sold at public auction. Since it is particularly small in comparison to the majority of the various pianos on the list, the piano is very appealing.
Instead of the standard 88, it only has 58 keys. The significance of this piano, which plays multiple pivotal and recurring functions throughout the film, including duty as a hiding location for transit paperwork, is unlikely to stem from its size or elegance. Instead, Kohler & Campbell likely made the piano. Although this piano is traced back to the olden film days, it is not the only one available, as there are a plethora of undiscovered treasures with deft touches and impressive backgrounds.
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