This interesting piece is signed in pencil on its inside bottom J Lier 1846. Its case is veneered in rosewood, the lid exterior with elaborate marquetry. The whole rests on a pedestal base with castors. The hinged fallboard with mother of pearl escutcheon drops down level to reveal the four-octave keyboard F–f´´´ with ivory naturals and ebony-slipped accidentals.

A removable tray with central pincushion and storage boxes with rosewood lids and ivory handles fits over soundboard area, and a simpler, smaller unit sits over the keyboard and must be removed for playing. The lid is held open by a swing mirror with original glass.

The simple Viennese action lacks a backcheck, and the instrument sounds an octave higher at 4´ pitch.

Apart from its recent history, little is known about this piano. It was discovered and purchased by a Melbourne antique dealer, Kurt Albrecht, who in 1995 passed it to his niece, Liz Walden.

A very similar, although less elaborately decorated, instrument is in the Smithsonian Institution.

Following some minor action work by Carey Beebe, the instrument was kindly donated to the School of Music in 2010 by Liz Walden.