Page 1: Museum Highlights What the pianos on this page have in common is that they are functional. Whether tableware, clocks, radios, pencil sharpeners, cosmetics, or smoking paraphernalia, the pianos on this page all serve a purpose. |
Pianos in my collection:
This neat old piece is a spinet piano with a bench. It is called "Steinweigh" and is a working transistor radio. The tuning knobs are revealed when you lift the lid. This piano measures 6 1/2" across by 4 3/4" high and operates on a 9-volt battery. |
The piano on the left is an old coaster set I got an an antique mall. The lid opens to reveal four lyre-printed wood and cork coasters inside. The keyboard is three-dimensional plastic. This piano measures 5 1/2" across by 6" high. On the right is a vintage cigarette box and ashtray set with a little elf on top. It comes with two ashtrays and the lid lifts off. The box measures 3 3/4" across by 4 1/2" high (elf included). The ashtrays each measure 2 1/4" across by 1" high. |
This is a nice speckled brown cream and sugar set. The flowers lift off to expose the interiors of the pianos. The creamer is 9" across by 7" high and the sugar bowl is 3 1/2" across by 5" high. They feature nicely-sculpted keyboards and detailed sheet music. They both are stamped on the bottom "ŠOCI" for Omnibus (a division of Fitz & Floyd). |
On the left is a brown ceramic planter that is 4 1/2" high and 8 1/2" long. On the right is a little ceramic salt and pepper shaker set. Each piano measures 1 1/2" across and high. |
The stylized ashtray on the left is impressed "Sarsaparilla, Deco Designs, New York City, 1980" on the back. It measures 6 1/2" across by 7 1/2" long. On the right is an odd deco-style planter that measures 3" high by 4" across. This piano is for sale in the MiniPianos.com Gift Shop! |
On the left is a golden clock with a black face. It is made by Timex and measures 2" across by 3 1/4" high with the lid open. On the right is a 2001 Hello Kitty keychain depicting a piano recital. The keychain is a turquoise egg shape with the Hello Kitty logo on the cover. When opened, you see the two kitties in their living room. One is at the piano and one is at a music stand, probably a singer. The best part is that when you open it, a mechanism causes the two kitties to move back and forth! The tag says this is a Sanrio Pocket Critter. The egg is only 1 1/4" wide and 2 1/2" long. |
Here is a really cool musical lighter. I only have the blue one, but it also comes in white, red, mauve, black, and probably other colors as well. The tiny piano sits on a base filled with butane lighter fluid. When you open the piano lid, the piano plays "Fur Elise." There is a little prop stick for holding up the lid. When you push in the button on the base, the lighter lights. The lighter measures 1 3/4" high by 1 1/4" across by 2 1/4" long. |
Here is a bronze upright piano pencil sharpener. The keyboard cover opens to reveal a three-dimensional plastic keyboard. This piano is 2 1/4" across and high. |
On the left is a coppery grand piano pencil sharpener with a three-dimensional plastic keyboard. It measures 2" across by 2 1/4" high. On the right is a cookie cutter in the shape of a piano. It measures about 3 3/4" across and high. |
On the left is a piano pencil sharpener made by Play Me of Spain. It measures 2 1/4" across and high. This piano is for sale in the MiniPianos.com Gift Shop! On the right is an organ pencil sharpener. It measures 2 1/4" across by 4" high. |
This piano is an old Avon solid perfume holder. The lid lifts up to reveal the perfume reservior (the perfume is all gone). This golden piano is very richly detailed and the body is made of a solid cast piece. It measures 1 3/4" across by 1" high. The underside of the lid is stamped with the Avon logo. The last picture is not of mine, but shows the detail. I gave one of these as a gift to Tori Amos. |
Here is a red ring box covered in velvety fabric and with a plastic silver keyboard. The lid opens and closes like a regular ring box. This piano measures 2 1/4" across by 1 3/4" high. |
Pianos not in my collection:
On the left is an Estee Lauder perfume holder. It was a limited edition sold only through Nordstroms in the late 1990s and will never be released again. It has two rows of clear rhinestones around the piano as well as one around the red enamel bench that comes with it. The top of the grand piano opens to reveal the perfume and there is a little stand inside the lid that holds the top open. Above the piano keys it is stamped ESTEE LAUDER. On the right is another Estee Lauder perfume piano. |
The piano and stool salt and pepper set on the left is 1 3/4" high. These are vintage Japan and have wooden corks. On the right is a cat and piano salt and pepper set. |
On the left is a pair of 1950s vintage cats on pianos, a salt and pepper set by Lefton Norcrest. They are 3" high. On the right is an Elvis Presley piano and bench salt and pepper shaker set. The piano measures 3 3/4" long by 2 1/2" across by 2 1/2" high. |
On the left is a vintage set of plastic salt and pepper shakers. The shakers are stored in the top of the piano and pop up when the keyboard is pushed. This piano is approximately 4" high. On the right is an unusal piano keyboard vase that is 12" tall & 3" across. |
This beautiful piano is wonderful as a miniature, but also works perfectly as a radio with one 9-volt battery. The case of the piano is all wood with a glossy finish; the keys are plastic. It measures 6 1/2" high, 7" long, and 6 1/4" across. It was made in Japan in 1962 by the L. K. Franklin Company. |
This old phonograph has a decal on the front that is partially worn off but the name looks like Pianotrola. The phonograph is electric and turns on with the knob on the left front. The speaker points out the bottom of the phonograph. |
The gold piano clock on the left measures 2" high and 2 1/2" across. The silver piano clock on the right measures 2" across, 1" high, and 2 1/4" in depth. |
Here is a pair of plastic piano telephones. On the left is a black grand piano by Columbia. It measures approximately 6 1/2" by 7 1/2" by 3". On the right is a burgundy phone that has some Asian writing on it. The keys each play a note, and you can make the piano play a whole tune. It stands on three removable legs and the back opens up so you can keep some little items in it. |
The figural brass piano pincushion on the left is marked "Made in Israel." The cloth cushion is an insert that is held by a screw. The top of the piano has a floral design. It is 2" long, 1 3/4" across, and 3/4" high. On the right is an acrylic piano coin sorter that sorts pennies (50), nickels (40), dimes (50), and quarters (40). It stands 6" high by 5" across by 3" deep. It is made of hard acrylic and has a latched back to open and remove coins, and also has a side latch to put in and take out bills. |
The vintage mini piano on the left holds two perfume bottles. On the bottom of one of the keys it says "Gardenia Fragrance - Bouton - Distributor - New York - 3/16 FL OZ." On the right is an upright piano cologne decanter made by Avon. |
On the left is an old cigarette box shaped like a piano. In the back of the piano it has four triangular-shaped ashtrays. This piece was made in Japan. The Toyo musical piano cigarette lighter on the right is made of antiqued silver metal. It winds up in the back and when you pick it up the music starts. It measures 4 1/2" high by 3" across. |
On the left is a green ceramic planter that is 4 1/2" high and 8 1/2" long. It's like the brown one I have. The Napco planter on the right is decorated with pink roses and yellow buttercups. Its measurements are 4" high by 4 3/8" across by 3" deep. |
On the left is a glass piano lamp with a metal base. The lamp measures 10" high and uses a 15-watt bulb. On the right is a piano cake pan set. These Wilton cake pans measure approximately 10" by 7 1/2" and 8 1/2" by 7". |
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