September is National Piano Month! This image shows the center portion of the fall board on the Glessners’ 1887 Steinway Model C, with its inlays of mother-of-pearl and various woods. The case of the piano was designed by Francis Bacon, the chief designer for A. H. Davenport & Co., which received the piano from Steinway and then undertook all of the decoration and finishing.
The Model C was extensively redesigned by Steinway in 1886. The Glessners’ piano was among the first produced in the new size of 7’-5” and a full keyboard of 88 keys.