POLISHING.—The older method of polishing woodwork consisted in the application of a mixture of turpentine and beeswax to the surface; this would be repeated again and again, and then well rubbed down with a hard brush, when a very durable polish was obtained. For flat surfaces, and particularly for the tops of dining tables which were formerly uncovered to show the wood, oil polishing was the fashion; this was effected by rubbing the table-top with a heavy weight backwards and forwards, using oil as a lubricant. Good housewives used to polish up their dining tables very frequently. Oil polishing had the great advantage, too, of producing a surface which hot plates did not easily mark. The cost, time, and trouble, however, caused these older processes to be abandoned in favour of "French" polishing, which is the application on a prepared surface of shellac dissolved in methylated spirits, and often other ingredients to give poor-looking wood a richer color. This polish is quicker, and therefore, cheaper than the old-fashioned method. It has come into general adoption since the Great Exhibition of 1851.
THE PIANOFORTE.
The Pianoforte is such an important article in the furniture of the present time, that a few notes about its development, from a decorative point of view, may be acceptable. In "Musical Instruments," one of the South Kensington handbooks, Carl Engel traces the Pianoforte from the "Clavicembalo," which he tells us, "was, in fact, nothing but a Cembalo or Dulcimer, with a key board attached to it." Our present Grand Piano was, however, more immediately a development of the Harpsichord[29] and Spinet, which had succeeded the Virginal of the 16th century. These were made of oblong shape and supported on stands, which were simply supports for the instrument, and did not form a part of it as do the legs of a modern "grand." In an original play bill, which is still preserved at Messrs. Broadwoods', there is an announcement that at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on the 16th of May, 1767, at the end of Act I. (of the Beggars' Opera), "Miss Brickler will sing a favourite song from 'Judith,' accompanied by Mr. Dibden, on a new Instrument, called Pianoforte."
There is an illustration on p. [172] of a Harpsichord which is in the South Kensington Museum, and in the same collection are others, varying in types as instruments, and of different decorations. The one which belonged to Handel is a good specimen of the decoration bestowed on these instruments. Others of about the middle of the eighteenth century, were covered with a coating of lacquer, like some of the furniture referred to in Chapter VI., the parts of the cases to be so decorated having been sent to China, and returned when coated with the preparation, then only known to the Chinese, but afterwards imitated in Europe. Some of these lacquered cases are very beautiful, and those which were elaborately painted in the Vernis Martin style, are finished with the care of cabinet pictures or miniatures. They have, as a rule, the fine subject painting, or landscape, inside the lid of the case, as in the illustration on p. [172], while the outside of the case is decorated with arabesques of gold on a dark colored ground. Such an Instrument was sold at the sale of Lord Lonsdale's furniture, a few years ago, for some three hundred pounds.
The rectangular shape appears to have been partially abandoned for the "Wing form," of which the modern "Grand" is a development, about the time of Queen Anne, and was, in some cases, adapted to the Harpsichord of the time. The earlier pianofortes were rectangular in form, with the idea of preventing the unequal appearance produced by the bent treble side of the Grand, and the writer has in his possession such an instrument, without pedals, which bears the inscription:—"By Royal Patent. Longman and Broderip, Musical Instrument makers, 13, Haymarket, and 26, Cheapside, London." Collard and Collard are the successors of this firm, and still retain the same premises in Cheapside. The oldest Broadwood piano, at present on exhibition in Vienna, bears the name of "Schudi and Broadwood," with date 1780. It is square and without pedals.
Towards the end of the last century pianos were made to harmonize with the Adam, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton furniture of the day, and some were elaborately inlaid with small plaques of Wedgwood's Jasper ware.
There are also instruments in existence, and designs, which shew that as the style of furniture changed during the time of the French Revolution, and subsequently to the Classic Greek, the Piano followed the new fashion. There is in St. James's Palace the instrument made by Broadwood for the Princess Charlotte, who died early in the nineteenth century. This is square in form, and is veneered with a single sheet of ivory, the elephant's tusk having been first softened by acid, and then cut circular fashion.