19th century figured wood and satinwood miniature piano (tra...

19th century figured wood and satinwood miniature piano (travelling spinet) given by Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, to George Hepburn and by descent to the current family owners, with original handwritten letter from Caroline, the piano with lift-up lid and folding fall front with satinwood lined interior, pair brass carrying handles to the sides, the lid interior with mirrored panel and having removable dark stained wood and fabric dust cover, with knob handle, the keyboard sliding, 68cm x 39.5cm

Caroline Bonaparte later Murat, Queen of Naples (1782-1839) married Joachim Murat, a general on Napoleon's staff. She was politically ambitious and wielded significant power. Napoleon made the Murats King and Queen of Naples in 1808. After Joachim was executed she was kept under the dominance of the Austrians first at Hainburg and then Frohrsdorf Castle, styling herself as a Countess of Lipona (anagram of Napoli) before settling in Trieste in 1824. She went back to Frohrsdorf for a visit in 1828 from where she wrote the letter in June, gifting the spinet to George Hepburn. The spinet has passed through various generations via George Hepburn's niece, Margaret Hepburn, wife to Sir David Deas, KCB, Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets in the Royal Navy. Family legend has it that George was one of Caroline Murat's lovers in Trieste.
The item is sold with original handwritten letter, which translates ‘I am taking the opportunity of my letter to advise Monsieur Hepburn that I have sent to his address a little piano which I beg him to accept as a small souvenir from Frohrsdorf and regretting greatly that he is not here himself to take pleasure in the hunting, because there is not a week goes by that we don’t bag a stag or fawns. I hope to be Trieste in a fortnight’s time, please pay my respects to the Benedetti family and to all those who remember me. The piano is so small that he could carry it in his arms down the garden path. I am sorry to hear from the general that the Bora wind has damaged the lawn in his garden, and even though it rivals the Campo Marzo, I am no less angry. Comptesse de Lipona’ and with various black and white photographs showing the spinet in an old family residence and restoration receipt dated 1959.