$1.2m jewel-encrusted Kuhn-Bösendorfer grand piano: world’s most expensive?
February 11, 2009 by Andy
An amazing fusion between glass art and masterful grand piano construction has created the first limited edition Kuhn-Bösendorfer worth an estimated $1.2 million.
The seven-foot-four-inch black grand piano is inset with over 100,000 hand cut, lead crystal jewels arranged in a glittering array of diamond patterns on the case, lid, legs and fallboard.
It took a year-and-a-half to make and is a “grand collaboration” between L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH of Vienna, Austria and Jon Kuhn, the world’s foremost cold glass sculptor.
“This piano is beyond words,” Kuhn said during the launch event. “It’s breathtaking. We knew it would turn out great, but nothing like this. It’s vibrant. Alive. It’s the first time – ever,” he noted, “that another artist has participated in the creation process, and I most emphatically consider Bösendorfer craftspeople to be artists, true artists. And what a privilege it has been to collaborate with them.”
“Bösendorfer has worked with top artists and designers since the nineteenth century to create uniquely designed, hand-built pianos of unusual visual as well as musical quality,” noted Eric Johnson, the maker’s US operations manager and Eastern regional sales manager. “We’re very pleased with the initial Kuhn-Bösendorfer. And now that we’ve had the pleasure of working so closely with Jon, we’re looking forward with great anticipation to the next one – and the one after that.”
Each instrument will have the owner’s name written on in it gold leaf, embedded deep within the Kuhn-Bösendorfer’s striking crystal fallboard logo.
Kuhn-Bösendorfers are available from $1.2 to $3.5 million, including the flagship 9′6″ Imperial concert grand. Each design will be different.
Check out this video of the grand piano being played by Valentina Lisitsa.
Popularity: 2% [?]
We value your opinion, so why not leave a comment or see what others have written
If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe to the RSS feed or email newsletter, or get updates via Twitter? You'll be most welcome.
[...]  pianoandsynth Share and Enjoy this article: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can [...]