Beschreibung:

Poul Henningsen (b. Ordrup 1894, d. Hillerød 1967) “PH Grand Piano”. Mignon type, 7 1/4 octaves with black stained wood and chromed steel frame. Edge covered with original patinated natural leather. Lyre and three curved chromed steel legs. Perspex lid and sheet holder, divided with chromed steel lists. Designed 1931. This example made approx. 1932 by Andreas Christensen. H. 94 cm. L. 148 cm. W. 145 cm. Provenance: Gunnar Bratvold and Ingelise Bratvold. Since passed down to the current owner through inheritance. Poul Henningsen’s Mignon grand piano, which he designed in 1931, is one of the most characteristic examples of modern design of the period. It is a musical instrument that transcends its function and, with its distinctive and highly sculptural form, takes a grand piano as an instrument from classicism and elitism directly into modernism. It is thus also transformed into a sculpture, with a visual impression even more immediate than the music played on it. As only a few of the PH grand piano were made, it also became the ultimate status symbol among Danish progessive liberals (Kulturadikale) of the 1930s, a rallying point for the new tones of the day and for those with a new, transparent, rational and modern way of thinking. The grand piano retained its iconic status in post-war Denmark among the circle of artists and architects, among others, who together created the concept of Danish Design and elevated it to world renowned. The journal Mobilia played a central role in this. What started out as a dull trade journal for the furniture industry in Denmark was transformed under Gunnar Bratvold’s ownership. With him and his wife Ingelise as publishers, it became the standard-bearer for Danish Furniture Design and Danish Design as a whole. The journal became the place where all things new were presented – and not just new furniture, but new journal graphics and layout, too. A number of renowned architects and artists were attached to the magazine as editors, with Poul Henningsen perhaps the most well-known of them. The publisher’s own home, first Eriksholm Manor and later Borupgård in North Zealand, also became a festive meeting point for artists, architects and manufacturers throughout the 1960s. So, it was quite natural for Poul Henningsen to recommend that his friend Gunnar Bratvold buy this grand piano when the opportunity arose in 1965 to acquire one of what are thought to be 12 first examples from the 1930s made by Andreas Christensen. Gunnar Bratvold jumped at the chance, and the grand piano was moved into Borupgaard, where it became the permanent focal point in an otherwise changing exhibition of art and furniture. Poul Henningsen could only be pleased to find that above it would hang the first edition of his “Artichoke” pendant, This had been a wedding pressent from Poul Henningsen and his wife Inger to Ingelise and Gunnar Bratvold when there were married in 1963. This lamp now hangs at Design Museum Denmark. The grand piano is at Borupgaard a centrepiece in festive settings, and many famous people have heard and played it. The seller states that the cigarette burns that can be seen on the fluted Bakelite moulding just above the keys are thought to have been caused by Ben Webster. Original purchase agreement from 1965 included. Condition Condition report available on request. Request condition report Preview See catalog Auction Decorative art and design, 7 December 2023 Category Modern Furniture Bidding Deadline 7 December at 3:55 pm Selling 7 December at around 7:15 pm Estimate 750,000–1,000,000 DKK
Condition