I'm excited to announce that the Bojavsky Fortepiano has been SOLD! In the early 2000s, I bought what was essentially a wreck of a fortepiano. The casing was broken, the soundboard was cracked and worm-eaten, and it was covered in what seemed like a century of dust. But I recognised it as an original Viennese instrument from around 1820, and it carried the name of Wilhelm Bojavsky.

Little is known about Bojavsky himself. He lived and worked in Vienna’s Laimgrube district, alongside greats like Anton Walter—Mozart’s fortepiano maker. Bojavsky received his license to build pianos in 1811, but this instrument which we can date to about 1820, appears to be the only surviving example of his work.

The restoration, completed in 2019 and carried out by two excellent restoration workshops, brought the instrument back to life. My initial idea was to explore its repertoire and historical context in more detail—but by the time the restoration had finished, my interests, and therefore focus, just lay in earlier instruments.

We’ve now found the right new home for the Bojavsky: a conservatory in Eisenstadt, where it will be played, studied, and fully appreciated. Before parting with it, I wanted to document it briefly. With a series of 8 selected Schubert waltzes and some footage around Vienna, we say farewell: Abschied vom Bojavsky.

You can listen to the series here. One piece of the 8 part series will be uploaded each week starting April 15, 2025.

FOR SALE: This biedermeier instrument built ca. 1820 by Wilhelm Bojavsky, is the only one I have ever seen with Bojavsky’s nameplate and is typical for those of the period from 1820-30 with it’s elegantly curved case, triple stringing throughout and “mutations” – Verschiebung, moderator, damper pedal, and the so-called “Trommel” (drum). Restoration finished in 2020.It is made of walnut, has six octaves, viennese action, four brass pedals and gilded legs.

The instrument is ideal for early romantic music such as Schubert, Brahms, and Beethoven.

I am happy to answer any and all questions about Bojavsky's Fortepiano. Please contact me for the full restoration report and to schedule viewings (also via video call).

You can hear some of Schubert's 'Deutsche Tänze' performed on the Bojavsky in the video below: