New, Hautrive

# Hautrive Baby Grand Piano – 130 cm – Late 1940s

**Serial No. 23393 | Brussels, Belgium**

A rare and exceptionally compact Belgian baby grand piano by **Hautrive of Brussels**, one of Belgium's distinguished historic piano manufacturers.

Measuring only **130 cm in length**, this remarkable instrument is among the smallest traditional grand pianos ever produced. Its unusually compact proportions make it particularly attractive for interiors where the elegance and playing experience of a true grand piano are desired without the space normally required by one.

## A distinguished Belgian piano maker

The Hautrive piano manufacture was founded in **Schaerbeek, Brussels, in 1887 by Edmond Hautrive (1850–1902)** and developed into one of Belgium's respected piano manufacturers.

During its most successful period, Hautrive produced both upright and grand pianos and gained recognition at international exhibitions. The company's ambitions extended well beyond domestic instruments: in 1935 Hautrive developed a large concert grand for the Brussels World's Fair.

Hautrive concert instruments were subsequently supplied to prestigious Belgian musical institutions, including the **Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel** and the broadcasting studios of the NIR at Flagey in Brussels. A Hautrive concert grand was also made available to competitors in the 1938 Eugène Ysaÿe Competition, which would later become the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Today, surviving Hautrive instruments represent an interesting chapter in the history of **Belgian piano making**.

## The instrument

This particular Hautrive, **serial number 23393**, dates from the **late 1940s**.

At just **130 cm long**, its proportions are extraordinary. Hautrive managed to incorporate the construction and visual elegance of a grand piano into a footprint barely larger than that of many upright pianos.

The cabinet is finished in **dark mahogany** and has been carefully **hand French-polished**, bringing out the depth, warmth and natural figuring of the wood. Its restrained post-war design and beautifully proportioned case give the piano an understated elegance.

The original **ivory keyboard** has been preserved, adding both tactile and historical character to the instrument.

Despite its exceptionally modest dimensions, this remains a genuine acoustic grand piano, with the horizontal action and playing characteristics that distinguish a grand from an upright.

### Specifications

* **Maker:** Hautrive
* **Origin:** Brussels, Belgium
* **Serial number:** 23393
* **Period:** late 1940s
* **Type:** baby grand piano
* **Length:** approx. 130 cm
* **Cabinet:** dark mahogany
* **Finish:** traditional hand French polish
* **Keys:** original ivory
* **Construction:** traditional acoustic grand piano

## A rare piece of Belgian piano history

This Hautrive is much more than simply a very small grand piano. It combines **Belgian piano-making heritage, unusually compact engineering and fine traditional cabinetmaking*