To all:

I looked in on the Smythe collection of Art-case Pianos. It is
definitely worth visiting. (www.mts.net/~smythe).

On this subject.....

I am currently working on a 1925 Wm Knabe "Verni-Martin" Art-case 5'4"
Ampico "A". It has many Victorian-era paintings on its Louis XVI
platform- type case. It appears that it was overcoated with "Antiquing"
coloration to give it an "old masters" look. The original overspray has
since turned a dark, dirty, smoke-stained ugly brownish-greenish color
over the years to where one can barely make out the original paintings,
even in strong light.  Apparently the original owner was a heavy
smoker.

   I am currently removing the old varnish on all surfaces using very
careful painting-restoration techniques (my daughter works at the
Seattle Art Museum, and has given me a *lot* of help). I am able to
carefully remove just the varnish by a careful, judicious use of
precise solvents, Q-tips, cotton balls and a soft toothbrush, leaving
the original oil pigments essentially untouched.  A sloooow process!

With the old varnish removed, beautiful and very colorful oil paintings
on a light blue-gray enamel background are revealed.

The question will be whether to re-do the "antiquing" overspray or to
leave the paintings in their bright, "cleaned and repaired" condition.
Of course all gold leaf and gild trim will be restored also.

I remember the furor when a few of the Amsterdam Museum's lesser
Rembrandts were cleaned of their original, now almost-totally-black
varnish, revealing beautiful colors. Many thought it was sacrilege (old
paintings are "supposed" to be very dark)....many others thought the
cleaned paintings gorgeous....  Now, this piano isn't a Rembrandt, and
my daughter says the paintings are "1920's kitch" and of little value
as oil paintings per-se.  They are mostly crudely executed copies of
French artists. Their value lies in a beautifully decorated piano with
"factory original" painted surfaces!  She recommends leaving the
paintings and the light background in the "as- cleaned" condition and
only use a modern oil-painting varnish covering....  don't re-do the
dark "antiquing".

Any thoughts would be appreciated......

-Pat-