Online bidding
Bid for your favourite piano or watch the latest auction live with easyliveauction.com. Registration is free and takes two minutes.
Loading image
Eavestaff
An upright piano in a mahogany and satinwood banded art case, inset with decorative panels depicting figures in classical dress, flanked by brass sconces above cluster columns. Together with a cabriole legged duet stool.
Estimate £800 to £1,200
Plus a buyer's premium of 24% plus VAT (28.8%) on the hammer price.
Specifications
- SKU
- 17909Sept26
- Maker
- Eavestaff
- Year
- 1890
- Type
- Upright
- Auction
- 22nd September 2026 Auction Catalogue
Important information
Ivory: It is now illegal to sell a piano with an ivory keyboard dating post 1975 without an Ivory Registration Number. Pianos with ivory keyboards dating pre 1975 will have been registered with APHA on the government website. All pianos dating from 1947 to 1975 with ivory keys will have an Article 10 certificate in place.
Description
The case is in wonderful condition. All the period detail and appointments are still wonderfully intact. There is both an architectural and artistic element to this piano which delights the soul. The top lid is unglued and will need to be refixed but this is not a sign of anything structural, or anything that needs to be worried about.
The full iron frame is in good structural condition. The stringing appears to be acceptable but there are shakes, particularly noticeable in the capping in the bass pin area. There is one broken string in the upper treble. The piano is currently tuned a semitone below concert pitch and this is where I would recommend it stays. The soundboard and bridges appear to be structurally sound.
The action, likewise, will need attention but is certainly intact.
The keyboard is in good condition and the material used for covering is ivory. There are a couple of small chips to 4 or 5 of the key fronts but this does not detract from the overall look.
This is a wonderful survival. Surely one does not buy a piano of this type for the musical capabilities – it is purely for the decorative quality.
There is a delightful facsimile of correspondence – unfortunately the longhand is too difficult to read but it relates to the piano.
This report is based on a cursory examination and is our opinion only. It does not constitute a guarantee and potential buyers should satisfy themselves about the lot before bidding.
Book a viewing
Come and play this piano in person before sale day. Pick a slot from the viewing calendar at our Watford or Bodegraven venue, free and by appointment.
Get a delivery quote.
Tell us a bit about the lot and your address. We will share your enquiry with our preferred carriers so they can come back with a quote.
Specialist piano cover
Insure this piano from the moment you collect.
Pianos are valuable, fragile, and unique. We partner with specialist insurance brokers to arrange dedicated policies for uprights and grands — covering accidental damage, transit, fire and theft, from the day you collect through to recital halls and tour dates.
Trusted insurance partners
Lark Insurance
Specialist piano cover
Allianz
Worldwide policies
Hiscox
Fine art and instruments
Buy a piano FAQs.
Yes. Our online auction catalogue is published before each sale and includes detailed descriptions, photographs, auction estimates, and condition reports for every piano entered into the auction.
An auction estimate is the price range we believe a piano is likely to achieve based on recent auction results, market demand, age, condition, brand, and model.
Yes. Every piano is inspected by our experienced team before the auction takes place. Information gathered during the inspection is included in the condition report of each lot.
Yes. We strongly encourage all buyers to attend the viewing period and inspect the pianos before placing bids. This takes place on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday prior to the auction.
Viewing appointments can be booked online, by telephone, or by contacting our office directly. Advance booking is recommended, particularly during busy viewing days.
Yes. Our experienced piano specialists are available throughout the viewing period to answer questions regarding condition, tone, age, restoration history, and suitability.
Yes. Our team will be happy to guide first-time buyers through the auction process, including registration, bidding, payment, and delivery arrangements.
As auction purchases, pianos are generally sold as seen. Buyers should inspect the instrument during the viewing period and review the catalogue information before bidding.
You can bid in person, online, by telephone, or by leaving an absentee bid for the auctioneer to execute on your behalf.
Registration is quick and straightforward. Simply create an account with Easyliveauction then register for the auction itself. To bid in person, via telephone or with an absentee bid, we will send you a registration form via Signable to complete before the auction begins.
Pianos are sold in lot number order, beginning with the lowest lot number and progressing sequentially throughout the auction.
Both are possible. Some pianos sell below estimate, while particularly desirable instruments may exceed their published auction estimate due to competitive bidding. Remember all estimates are based on what similar pianos have sold for.
A buyer's premium is added to the hammer price of each successful bid. Our premium is 24% plus VAT (28.8%).
Payment is required within 2 days following the auction and can be made by bank transfer. Your piano will then be released to your chosen carrier or transport company.
No. We work with three specialist piano transport companies and can arrange delivery throughout the UK and internationally who would be more than happy to provide you with a quote.
Simply fill out our delivery form online with your details and the lot number of the piano you are interested in, and you will receive a delivery quotation from one of our approved piano transport partners.