Is there value in an old piano? Is my piano an antique?

Whenever I get a call from someone who tells me they have recently acquired an 'antique' or 'vintage' piano, alarm bells start to ring. Chances are, the piano is not an antique at all, and whilst it might be described as vintage (between 20 and 100 years old), that doesn't mean much.

A quick google search reveals thousands of pianos for sale marked as 'antique' or 'vintage', almost exclusively sold privately, on platforms like Facebook marketplace and eBay. Unfortunately, these descriptors can blindside buyers into thinking they've found something special, and potentially valuable, when in fact, what they have purchased is an old, but average piano, in bad condition, and nearing the end of its functioning life.

Having said that, not all old pianos are worthless or beyond repair, so in this post, I hope to arm you with a little piano history knowledge; empowering you to see through the tactics of sellers, who - intentionally, or though their own ignorance - are scamming those desperate to own their own piano.

It might surprise you to learn that pianos have remained largely the same since the late Victorian times, both in terms of inner mechanics and appearance. So when we talk about a piano being an antique, we are talking about very early pianos; pianos that were made roughly between 1700 and 1900. These pianos are mostly found in museums, rather than in private homes, and look very different to our modern-day models.

Square piano made in 1814. These pianos usually had 5 octaves. Mozart composed much of his work using a Fortepiano of just five octaves, and limited dynamics.

A genuinely 'antique' piano, made by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the world's first piano maker, in (1655-1731)

If your piano is old, but looks largely like a modern-day piano (albeit with a natural wood finish rather than black laquer), then it was probably made in the 20th Century. Whilst not strictly antique in piano making terms, some 20th century pianos could be described loosely as antiques. The Cambridge Dictionary defines an antique as an object made in an earlier period and considered to have value because of being beautiful, rare, or of high quality. So, in order to determine whether a older piano has significant value, we must ask the following questions:

Wurlitzer Apollo carved parlour piano, made in 1916. not strictly an antique, but would certainly sell as one, due to its ornate casework.

1. Is the piano beautiful?

2. Is this piano rare?

3. Is this this piano of high quality?

   
   

So, is the piano beautiful? This one is fairly obvious. Perhaps your piano's casework has gold leaf plating, or intricate wooden carvings, or even a mural painted by a famous artist. These unusual properties would make a piano valuable in an antique auction, even if the piano's mechanics have seen better days.

Next, is the piano rare? The early 1900's are described as a 'golden age' of piano making because of the boom in piano manufacturing around the world. There were so many piano factories here in the UK, that, 100 years later, I am still discovering new brands whilst out tuning every week. Pianos were mass produced and therefore more affordable, which meant that many households had a piano - certainly more than do today. This means that pianos made in the 20th century are not rare at all. Of course, there are certain makes and models that are exceptions to this rule, but they are usually sold through specialist dealers.

Is the piano of high quality? Most pianists know that Steinway pianos are considered to be among the very best piano-makers in the world, and this has been the case since they opened for business in 1853. Perhaps your older piano is a Steinway, or another high-quality brand, and this means it could be of value. However, a piano is a piece of engineering, and if it isn't functioning correctly, or is in poor condition, then it is not of much value to anyone, no matter how brilliant its maker. Many people contact a piano tuner hoping that a quick two hour tuning session can completely restore an old piano, and unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes parts need replacing, or major work must be done on the piano's action to make it playable. Because of this, older pianos can be a burden, and this is why so many old pianos are for sale online for apparently very low prices. Always have your wits about you when you are buying a piano online, and if you are unsure, speak to a local piano technician, or go to a reputable piano dealer for advice.

There is one final reason why a piano might have value, and that is because of who has played it. A Yamaha G2, made in 1976 and once owned my Freddie Mercury, sold at auction in 2023 for £1,742,000, and whilst the G2 is a brilliant model, it would usually sell second-hand for a fraction of that cost. But I am not just talking about famous musicians or celebrities, I am talking about the people in our lives who matter to us. Perhaps your piano has been in your family for generations, or perhaps it was gifted to you by a friend or a mentor, and for you, that makes the piano priceless. If that is the case, then it is worth contacting a local tuner for advice on how to make the most of your beloved instrument.

However you acquire your piano, make sure to play it before purchase, and stay savvy!