Page 1: Museum Highlights Ceramic, porcelain, and similar materials are commonly used to make miniature pianos. There are figurines, decorative items, and trinket boxes galore. |
Pianos in my collection:
This is a pair of miniature piano teapots. The one on the left measures 4 1/2" across by 3 1/2" high. The one on the right measures 5" across by 3 1/2" high and is missing its lid. I didn't categorize these a functional because they are really just decorative. |
These two pianos are both made by Hagen-Renaker, a company known for its collectible miniature ceramic animals. The brown upright actually is part of a set that can be seen below, but I don't have the matching piece. The sheet music is marked "Meowsic," as the intended player is a kitten. This piano is nicely detailed, especially the back, which has the correct detailing for an upright piano. The black grand is sold alone, or with a frog or a polar bear cub playing it. The inside is gold-colored and reflective. The brown upright measures 2 3/4" across by 2" high; the black grand is 1 1/2" across by 1 3/4" high. |
This trinket dish has yellow tea roses on it and measures approximately 2" high and 2 3/4" across. |
Pianos not in my collection:
On the left is a kitten atop a piano. This figurine was from an estate in Australia. On the right is a piano teapot. |
On the left is a full figural Elfinware grand piano trinket box marked on bottom "Agro An O'Hearmain Tir a dheanta." It stands 2 1/2" high and 3 3/4" long. On the right is an English mossware box that measures 4 1/2" long. The lid is encrusted with ceramic flowers. |
This piano has a painted red and pink carnation bouquet on top. There is a gold leaf floral design that goes around the sides of the piano. The bottom of the legs are also gold. It is made in Japan and measures approximately 6" long, 4 3/4" across, and 3" high. |
This piano is stamped Occupied Japan and measures 2 1/2" by 2 1/2". Pieces kwown as "Occupied Japan" are fairly common, and I do not collect them as they generally are of mediocre quality, as seen in in this example. |
This piano dresser box has a removable lid with a violin/floral design and a floral design all the way around it. It measures 6 1/2" long, 4" across, and 3 1/2" high. |
On the left is a Hagen-Renaker cat and piano figurine set. The piano measures about 2" high, 2 3/4" wide, and 1" deep. On the right is a Hagen-Renaker figurine set that features a little frog playing the piano. The frog is about 1 1/4" high; the piano is about 1 3/4" long. Made in San Dimas, California. |
This lovely older porcelain figurine on the left is a nun playing a piano. There are some Japanese symbols on it. It measures 4 1/2" high. On the right is a unique piece from the days of Occupied Japan (early 1940s). This man and woman at the piano measures 4" by 6" by 6" high. It is marked "Occupied Japan" on the bottom of the piece. |
On the left is a brown and gold jewelry box. The top of the piano lifts off. This piece dates from the 1970s. On the right is a set of Pendelfin figurines: Thumper & the Piano. |
This is a rare Goebel collector's piece. A redhead girl plays the piano with her cat nearby. It measures 4" across, just over 2 1/2" deep, and 3 7/8" high. The piece is sculptured by Gerhard Skrobek and has an incised date of 1985 under the base. |
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