4. Pianoforte

This Chickering Square Grand Pianoforte more simply known as a “piano” is one of only two pieces of furniture from the early years of the Beall-Dawson House (now administered by Montgomery History). Purchased by Miss Margaret J. Beall (1817-1901) from Cole’s Music Co. in Baltimore in 1834, it was used throughout her life in the family home built c.1815 by her father Upton Beall (1770-1827). Later, Margaret shared the house with the family of her cousin Amelia Dawson; three of the Dawson daughters would inherit the house.

The front of the mahogany case is inlaid “J. Chickering & Co., Boston.” Jonas Chickering (1797-1853) shipped this piano to G.F. Cole (George Frederick Handel Cole) in Baltimore on September 29, 1834 (information based on the serial number “1888” engraved on the sounding board). The interior is labeled by the vendor – “Superior Piano Fortes Sold by Cole’s Music Co., Baltimore” – a firm founded in 1822 by G.F. Cole’s father, John.

The piano was donated by Mr. and Mrs. John H. Dawson. Oral history of the Dawson family suggests the piano was used by the Dawson women to give dancing lessons in the drawing room of the Beall-Dawson House.

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