Giraffe piano

Giraffe piano (Fr.: piano giraffe; Ger.: Giraffenflügel), a form of *upright grand piano with straight bass side, the treble side usually curving over to form a scroll at the tail, made from ca. 1798 to 1850, generally with hanging *German action. Earlier models reached to the ground in order to provide maximum string length. From about 1830 smaller models were made that stood on 4 legs and were strung obliquely; these usually had standing German action. Wachtel and Bleyel of Vienna claimed the…