Step into the glamorous world of pianos, where skillful craftsmanship meets luxury, and every key played echoes cultural grandeur. You may have stumbled upon articles or videos claiming to reveal the priciest pianos globally, but here’s the twist – many lack an insider’s insight, missing a genuine understanding of these majestic instruments.
The pianos we’ll be talking about here are sought after for lots of reasons, and often, the high price has little to do with the instrument’s real performance or workmanship. Alternatively, in certain instances, it boils down to the particular piano’s uniqueness, its status in society as a whole, or just the fact of who had the piano before. We’ve chosen eight pianos for our list; although lovers of piano memorabilia may recognize some of these, it’s likely that you’ll be learning about some of them for the first time.
Exclusive Pianos Whose Staggering Prices Will Astound You!
Here we have put together a list of the world’s top-class Pianos with hefty price tags. Moreover, we’ll also find about the reason for these Pianos to priced so highly and who owns them
Rank | Piano Name | Price (USD) |
1 | Casablanca Prop Piano | $3,400,000 |
2 | Heintzman Crystal Piano | $3,220,000 |
3 | C. Bechstein Louis XV | $3,000,000 |
4 | NY Steinway & Sons ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ Model D | $2,500,000 |
5 | NY Steinway & Sons Fibonacci Model D | $2,400,000 |
6 | John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z Upright | $2,300,000 |
7 | Gold Leafed Schimmel Pegasus Galaxy Grand | $1,365,000 |
8 | C. Bechstein Sphinx Grand | $1,200,000 |
Casablanca Prop Piano
The primary on our rundown is the absolute most costly piano that has at any point been sold – the prop piano that was highlighted in the exceptionally renowned scene from the Hollywood film Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart. This piano has a few very interesting aspects to consider. First of all, it wasn’t a real acoustic piano because it was just a prop. It’s not even known to the public whether the piano was even useful.
It began as a credible piano, yet the prop division changed the size and width to fit the shot, diminishing the number of keys from 88 to a simple 15. The sound heard in the film during the scene was most certainly not coming from the prop piano however was overdubbed sometime later by a performer who was playing a genuine instrument. Even though it wasn’t even a real piano by most technical standards, the Casablanca prop piano sold at auction for $3,400,000, making it the most expensive piano in the world. Let`s read more about the most expensive musical instruments of all time.
Attribute | Details |
Sold Price | $3,400,000 USD |
Type | Prop Piano |
Film | Casablanca |
Functionality | Not an acoustic piano; altered for the shot |
Keys | Reduced from 88 to 15 keys |
Heintzman Crystal Piano
The second piano on our list here is the Heintzman Piano Organization Gem Show Terrific Piano which was uncommonly developed for the initial functions of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This piano was performed by Lang and was a significant part of those initial functions. But it’s hard to find specifics about the piano itself. To begin, although Heintzman was technically owned by a company based in Canada at the time, the pianos themselves were manufactured in China at the Beijing Sihai factory. It was made up of acrylic and not crystal. Some of the original Canadian presses and equipment were actually housed in a dedicated area of this factory.
This is where things get interesting with this piano; it has never been affirmed that this piano was really made of precious stone notwithstanding tales and buzz circling that it was. In any case, Lang Lang only played this Heintzman acrylic piano once in public before it went up for auction shortly after the Olympics in 2008. It sold for USD 3,220,000. As a piano itself, we realize that the Heintzman was delivering lower mid to mid-level instruments around then. It’s not clear whether this instrument has any unexpected inner parts in comparison to a standard Heintzman concerning the soundboard or strings. Without a doubt it got a colossal degree of prep to accomplish a condition of show status for an entertainer of Lang’s family, however, there is very little else that had some significant awareness of the actual instrument. Let`s read more about about the most valuable and exclusively gemstones in the world.
Attribute | Details |
Sold Price | $3,220,000 USD |
Type | Crystal Concert Grand Piano |
Event | 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies |
Material | Acrylic (rumored to be crystal) |
Auction History | Sold for USD 3,220,000 after one public performance by Lang Lang |
C. Bechstein Louis XV
The C. Bechstein Louis XV, which is number three on our list is approximately $3,000,000. We know that Bechstein is still able to produce additional copies of this instrument upon request and some arm-wringing and that there are currently only two examples of it. The C. Bechstein company gave Queen Victoria the original Louis XV piano when their new London showroom and concert hall opened in the late 1800s.
This instrument, which is essentially a perfect example of a “luxury piano,” was built by C. Bechstein without cutting any corners. The whole piano is shrouded in 24-karat gold leaf through and through including the plate, inward and external edges, and the entirety of the legs. Carpentry, on the other hand, is the instrument’s true focal point.
For their anniversary, Bechstein built a one-of-a-kind piano from the ground up, which took over three years to complete. It’s a complete work of art worth an estimated $3 million, with beautiful Louis-style carvings. Even though it was never sold, it now remains at Germany’s Potsdam Palace. Read more about the most expensive commercials in the world that ever made.
Attribute | Details |
Estimated Price | Approximately $3,000,000 USD |
Type | Louis XV Luxury Piano |
Special Features | 24-karat gold leaf, intricate carvings |
Original Gift | Gift from C. Bechstein to Queen Victoria |
Recreation | Recreated in detail, now in Potsdam Palace |
NY Steinway & Sons ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ Model D
The following two pianos are as of late made restricted version pianos, both from the Steinway and Children Organization in New York. Both pianos are 9-foot concert grand pianos that were commissioned by well-known artists to be made into one-of-a-kind instruments. We’re looking at a standard Steinway D with a stunning hand-painted finish in this instance. We comprehend that neither one of these instruments as of now has been sold yet, so the market value that Steinway has allocated to these instruments is their most realistic estimation.
The first is a piano entitled Pictures at a Presentation, and this was given to the craftsman, Paul Wyse, to execute. With complicated, careful detail this piano portrays the narrative of Unassuming Mussorgsky’s “Photos at a Show”. The instrument’s entire outside rim has been painted, as has the lid’s interior and exterior. The legs have been decorated with extremely perplexing carvings and other nearly prop-like designs and figures. This piano is very interesting as a point of interest, but it’s hard to imagine it in a home rather than a museum. This piano is valued at $2,500,000 by Steinway. Read more about most expensive paintings ever sold that fetched millions.
Attribute | Details |
Price | $2,500,000 USD |
Type | Limited Edition 9’ Concert Grand |
Artist Collaboration | Paul Wyse for “Pictures at an Exhibition” |
Design | Hand-painted finish depicting Mussorgsky’s work |
Availability | Not yet sold, market price assigned by Steinway at $2,500,000 USD |
NY Steinway & Sons Fibonacci Model D
The Fibonacci Steinway piano, which was made to commemorate Steinway’s 600,000th piano produced, comes in at number five on our list. Artist Frank Pollaro was in charge of this project, and he came up with the idea to use veneer to depict the Fibonacci sequence. Countless veneer pieces and several wood kinds were used to craft one of the most carefully constructed piano veneers we have ever seen. With a given value of $2,400,000, this one clocks in somewhat slower than the other Steinway.
Attribute | Details |
Price | $2,400,000 USD |
Type | Fibonacci Steinway Piano |
Celebration | Created for the 600,000th piano by Steinway |
Design Concept | Frank Pollaro – Depiction of Fibonacci sequence through veneer |
Complexity | Thousands of veneer pieces and multiple wood types |
John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z Upright
Up next is John Lennon’s Steinway and Children’s upstanding piano. Although Steinway upright pianos are well-known as musical instruments and have always been regarded as adequate from a musical standpoint, they have never received the same respect as Steinway’s high-end grand pianos.
John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z was the piano used to express “Envision” and is “decorated” with genuine cigarette consumes from John, so this is an instance of significance worth being completely attached to who possessed it. At the point when it became available to be purchased, George Michael paid a dumbfounding amount of USD 2,300,000 to claim this instrument.
For a period, George Michael had this piano in his own belongings and was utilizing it to put down and account for his very own portion of music. Again, the value of the piano itself is not based on its intrinsic musical qualities but rather on the fact that one of the four Beatles owned and composed it. The piano is a relatively short console-style piano.
Attribute | Details |
Price | $2,300,000 USD |
Type | Upright Piano |
Owner History | Owned by John Lennon, later purchased by George Michael |
Notable Feature | Adorned with real cigarette burns from John |
Display Locations | Showcased in museums and music memorabilia places worldwide |
Gold Leafed Schimmel Pegasus Galaxy Grand
The item at number seven on the list is a bit of a puzzle since, although it isn’t mentioned officially online, it is obviously a Schimmel Pegasus that has been gold-plated by another business before being resold. German piano manufacturer Schimmel created the remarkable Pegasus piano, a fiberglass instrument that comes in two different colors. Indeed, in the past several years, a few Pegasus models have been sold in Toronto.
It’s clear that Middle Eastern luxury shop Galaxy is taking these instruments, giving them some physical tweaks, and covering them with gold leaf from head to toe. They also install a self-closing lid and a player piano system. Therefore, this is certainly a high-quality piano that also happens to look stylish.
Attribute | Details |
Price | $1,365,000 USD |
Original Manufacturer | Schimmel Pegasus |
Modification | Gold leafing, player piano system, self-closing lid |
Reselling Company | Galaxy Luxury |
Collectible Value | High-quality instrument, potential collectability |
C. Bechstein Sphinx Grand
The Sphinx piano, another instrument from the C. Bechstein piano line, is the next item on the list. This instrument is produced on a quasi-regular basis and is available directly from Bechstein for around USD 1,200,000. The Sphinx is an artistically improved C. Bechstein B212, although it is not nearly as complex as the Louis XV, which was built from scratch using a custom design.
Naturally, this is not a terrible thing, given that the B212 is often regarded as one of the greatest 7′ grants available, but it does explain why the Louis XV costs nearly three times as much. The beautiful inlays, carvings, and embellishments of a B212 piano combine Egyptian and French design features. The C. Bechstein Sphinx, which retails for $1.2 million, is an amazing piano with superb sound and craftsmanship. It has a Val Di Fiemme soundboard, walnut hammers created by Bechstein, and a rim with a complex design.
Attribute | Details |
Price | $1,200,000 USD |
Type | Aesthetically Enhanced C. Bechstein B212 |
Design Features | Intricate inlay work, additional carving, French and Egyptian aesthetic |
Quality | Considered one of the highest quality 7’ pianos |
Ordering | Can be ordered directly from Bechstein |
Final Notice
As we end this musical tour through the priciest pianos in the world, it’s not only about their high price tags but also about the stories they tell. Especially the parts they played in classic movies, the hands of renowned players, and the detailed craftsmanship that makes them unique. These pianos are more than just keys and strings; they are historic treasures and the physical manifestation of a priceless devotion.
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