Instruments, like fine art, must be carefully handled. Unfortunately, accidents do happen. A rare $194,000 Fazioli piano was destroyed when movers dropped it during its transit from a recording studio. The piano’s iron frame smashed when the 1300 pound instrument fell as movers attempted to lift it on to a trolley. The force of the break, compounded by the high tensions in the piano’s strings, was so strong that it split the piano’s lid in two.
The instrument belonged to Canadian virtuoso Angela Hewitt. Her F278 Fazioli piano was the only one in the world with four pedals. The pianist kept the instrument in her home in Italy. Fazioli Pianos originate in Sacile, near Venice, an area famed for woodworking. “There are six or seven top companies making good quality pianos. Different pianos appeal to different people according to tone and touch. The Fazioli is good for Bach,” said Simon Markson, managing director at Markson Pianos.
Hewitt said she will choose a new Fazioli in the next few months, writing, “I hope my piano will be happy in piano heaven.” Speaking of her destroyed piano, Hewitt said, “It was my best friend, best companion. I loved how it felt when I was recording — giving me the possibility to do anything I wanted.” Italian engineer and pianist Paolo Fazioli, the owner of Fazioli Pianos, deemed the instrument “unsalvageable.”
Similar to appraising unique fine art items, valuing an exquisite piano is challenging. Each piano is unique. And like with fine art, an instrument’s provenance (ownership history) affects its value. Here, the Fazioli piano’s value would have been boosted by the fact that it was owned and played by such a talented and well-known pianist. According to Terence Lewis, co-owner of London’s Jaques Samuel Pianos, “If that piano went to auction unbroken that [the piano’s ownership by Hewitt] would have given it a very large premium.”
It is important that all owners of valuable instruments properly insure their property. As Ms. Hewitt told CNN, she is handling insurance issues now. This serves as a reminder to all owners: it is important to regularly appraise valuable property and update insurance policies.