Hopkinson, London

[Mimi]

I have an upright piano made by J&J Hopkinson, address 235 Regent St., London. The serial number inside the top is #4495. It is absolutely beautiful with ornate openwork carving on the front and what looks like brocade fabric backing the carving. Someone told me it was burled walnut, another said burled rosewood. Can you tell me anything about its history? Thank you.

[Bill Kibby]

As I said when you emailed me, the numbers published for Hopkinson are wrong, but it seems from others with similar numbers that yours may be from around 1870. Hopkinson moved to Regent Street by 1860. Without photos, I can't tell much, except that the pierced fretwork is probably before 1880-ish. Have a look at the item above on cottage pianos.