Prop piano from "The Piano Lesson" revival with Nord Piano keyboard

Object Details

Designed by

Beowulf Boritt, American

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, American, born 1949

Subject of

August Wilson, American, 1945 - 2005

Samuel L. Jackson, American, born 1948

Danielle Brooks, American, born 1989

John David Washington, American, born 1984

Ray Fisher, American, born 1987

Trai Byers, American, born 1983

Michael Potts, American

Nadia Daniel

Jurnee Swan

April Matthis

Ethel Barrymore Theatre, American, founded 1928

Produced by

88 Notes LLC, American, founded 2022

Manufactured by

Clavia Digital Musical Instruments, Swedish, founded 1983

Description

The prop piano from the 2022 Broadway revival of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." Prop is in the style of an upright piano and features relief panels depicting faces and figures of the Charles family's ancestors on the upper front board, upper front board side strips, lower front board, legs, and left side board. The figures are in the style of the ujamaa, Dimoongo, or "Tree of Life" tradition of the Makonde people, and they are shown variously "jumping the broom," embracing children, supporting each other, held in bondage, and being crushed underneath a wooden casket. The figures are 3D printed out of plastic polymer resin and painted to appear like ebony.

The prop houses a Nord Piano 5 keyboard with keys stained to appear like aged ivory. The keyboard sits in a tray in the prop piano.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Director & Producers: LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, and Tom Kirdahy

2022

Object number

2023.23ab

Restrictions & Rights

Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

keyboard instruments

upright pianos

props (object genres)

Medium

plastic polymer resin, wood and metal

Dimensions

H x W x D: 58 × 58 1/2 × 30 1/4 in. (147.3 × 148.6 × 76.8 cm)

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Musical Instruments

Props and Set Design

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Broadway Theatre

Design

Families

Literature

Motherhood

Slavery

Record ID

nmaahc_2023.23ab

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd520f58397-484d-4b9d-a5af-509de6238f7b