Baillie Scott and Charles Rennie Mackintosh were hugely influential
in architecture and fine art and design around a century ago, as the
new Gustav Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool demonstrates, not least
because Mackintosh and his wife visited Klimt and helped forge the
Viennese Secession. Thus the connection between the British Art and
Crafts movement and the Jugendstil, which is so different from the
parallel Art Nouveau.

The rare and remarkable Broadwood Manxman uprights by Baillie Scott
(there were several variants, by the way) were fine-sounding Barless
pianos exquisitely encased in heraldic marquetry panels, with wide front
doors, repoussé pewter cartouches and often hand-beaten ironwork
hinges.  Every one made is probably unique.

They were much admired and copied by other manufacturers, particularly
Bechstein, who produced a lovely "mediaeval" model where the tapering
front legs rise above the keyboard to become riddle-post candle sconces
rather as in gothic English church altars.  I've seen a picture of the
Roenisch player design somewhere; maybe Adam Ramet has one...

Baillie Scott was certainly contracted to Broadwood for the Manxman
design.  If he had any formal links with Rönisch or other makers it
would be great to know!

Patrick Handscombe
Wivenhoe, Essex, UK