Broadwood Lutyens

Colour: Oak
Year: 1901

The Broadwood Lutyens grand is a truly exceptional and historically significant piano, a rare oak grand piano made by John Broadwood and Sons, Britain's oldest and most storied piano manufacturer, dating from 1901. The association with Edwin Lutyens, one of Britain's greatest architects, gives this instrument an additional layer of provenance and cultural significance that is almost without parallel in the British instrument market.

Oak grand pianos are extraordinarily rare. The vast majority of instruments were built in rosewood, mahogany, or ebonised finishes, making this a genuinely one-of-a-kind piece. The Broadwood name carries immense prestige in British piano history, and instruments from this era of production are prized by collectors, musicians, and institutions alike. Priced at £12,495.

Available to view and play at our Oxfordshire showroom by appointment. This is an instrument for the serious collector or buyer seeking something truly unique. Contact us to discuss delivery, part-exchange, and finance options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are John Broadwood and Sons, and what is the Lutyens connection?

John Broadwood and Sons is the oldest surviving piano manufacturer in the world, founded in 1728. Broadwood built pianos for Beethoven, Chopin, and many of the great composers of the 18th and 19th centuries, and played a central role in the development of the modern piano. The connection to Edwin Lutyens, one of Britain's most celebrated architects, responsible for the Cenotaph and much of the country's finest early 20th century building, adds a cultural and historical provenance to this instrument that is almost unique in the piano market.

Why is an oak grand piano so rare?

Virtually all grand pianos produced in the 19th and early 20th centuries were cased in rosewood, mahogany, walnut, or ebonised black. Oak was an unusual choice for a piano cabinet, associated more with furniture and architectural woodwork than instrument making. An oak grand piano from 1901 is an architectural statement as much as a musical one, and finding a well-preserved example is an extraordinarily rare event. The Lutyens provenance makes this one even more singular.

How does this Broadwood compare to a Bechstein or Steinway from the same period?

A Bechstein or Steinway from around 1901 is a world-class instrument of exceptional tonal quality. A Broadwood from this period has a different character, warmer, rounder, and with the distinctly British tonal philosophy that defined Broadwood's approach. Broadwood was the instrument maker of choice for some of the greatest composers in history, and instruments from this era have a musical depth and historical significance that any collector or serious player will immediately recognise. In terms of provenance and uniqueness, this instrument is almost without equal.

Is this a practical playing instrument or primarily a collector's piece?

It can be both. An instrument of this rarity and provenance will naturally appeal strongly to collectors and institutions, but it is also a genuine musical instrument with a real playing experience available. We are happy to discuss the current playing condition and the work carried out on this piano in detail before any purchase. A personal visit to our showroom to play and assess the instrument is strongly recommended.

Is a Broadwood Lutyens grand a good investment?

An instrument of this rarity, provenance, and historical significance is effectively without a direct market comparator. The combination of the Broadwood heritage, the Lutyens connection, the oak cabinet, and the 1901 date makes this one of the most unusual pianos to have come to market in recent years. Instruments of this kind are not priced by normal market rules, they are priced by their uniqueness, and they tend to increase in value as their significance becomes more widely understood.