The world's most expensive piano ranking - What is the most expensive piano of all time

2023年05月20日

音楽の歴史上最も人気の高い楽器のひとつであるピアノ。クラシック音楽だけでなく、様々なジャンルで使用される事の多いピアノは、本当に多種多様なデザインであったり、世界的に有名な音楽家が所有していた事で高値がついています。(English) The piano is one of the most popular musical instruments in music history. However, pianos, which are often used not only for classical music but also for various genres, are highly priced due to the wide variety of designs and the fact that world-famous musicians owned them.

The world's most expensive piano ranking - What is the most expensive piano of all time?

The piano is one of the most popular musical instruments in music history. However, pianos, which are often used not only for classical music but also for various genres, are highly priced due to the wide variety of designs and the fact that world-famous musicians owned them.

A piano that belonged to a person who left his name in history was put up for auction, and a work that became the property of a modern, super famous artist, a piano that was expensive due to its design and rarity, and so on. So please enjoy it as it has become an interesting "World's Highest Piano Ranking".

10. La Mort du Cygne

Price: $409,000 (about 44 million yen)

Created in 1906 by one of France's most famous craftsmen, the piano is a historical piece called La Mort du Cygne, which means "dying swan" in French. Made from ultra-luxury mahogany, this piano has beautiful inlays all around the exterior.

The finest materials and unique design make this piano one of the most beautiful and elegant. Even if placed in a super-luxury European-style mansion lined with fine French furniture, its stately atmosphere will undoubtedly create an overwhelming presence.

9. The Casablanca Piano

Price: $602,500 (about 65 million yen)

The piano featured in the 1943 film 'Casablanca' was ranked ninth. Known as a masterpiece in American film history, it impresses fans worldwide. However, the price was extremely high because the piano appears in such an impressive scene in an ultra-historic film.

The beautiful yellow-green piano has deteriorated over the years, and now it's just a tattered piano that can't be called beautiful. However, it's still a valuable instrument worth over 65 million yen. Even without that sum, it is recognised as a historical and cultural relic that can be displayed in a museum.

8. Marilyn Monroe's baby grand piano

Price: $662,500 (about 70 million yen)

It's an ordinary old piano, but even we Japanese can fully understand the high value of the piano owned by Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn's mother initially held it, but after her death, Marilyn repurchased it and took possession of it.

After that, Marilyn Monroe died young and was owned by someone else. And I'm surprised to hear that the person who bought this piano for about 70 million yen was another super celebrity, Mariah Carey. So how much will it be worth if Mariah lets go of this piano?

7. Alma-Tadema Steinway

Price: $1,200,000 (about 130 million yen)

It is no exaggeration to say that this magnificent piano is a work of art. Initially made by Mr Alma-Tadema in 1887, few people know the name, even if they like classical music. However, the world's number one piano manufacturer "Steinway" made a replica of such a beautiful historic piano.

One hundred years later, the replica is a perfect original copy. The original piano was then auctioned off for nearly 6 million yen. Surprisingly, the model made by Steinway sold for about 130 million yen, much higher than the original.

6. The Kuhn-Bosendorfer grand piano

Price: $1,200,000 (about 130 million yen)

Produced by the collaboration of two rare piano artisans and a glass sculptor, this piano is a work that can be called a masterpiece. About 100,000 precious stones, carefully polished and cut by the artisans, are inlaid in the piano, giving it a beauty worthy of being called a jewel.

The work created with the concept of a piano that will involuntarily enchant women when they see it is highly excellent and artistic. The magnificent piano, unique in the world, was sold for about 130 million yen, just like the 7th place, but we ranked it 6th because of its uniqueness.

5. Galaxy Piano

Price: $1,360,000 (about 145 million yen)

Called the "Galaxy", this piano is futuristic and novel, shattering the notion of a historical instrument, like something from a science fiction film. Valued at around 145 million yen, the piano's body is covered in 24-carat gold, making it an eye-catching piece.

Surprisingly, all the extremely rare and valuable pianos, of which only five were made worldwide, have already been sold. So if you want to buy this futuristic piano, you must find the current owner and negotiate with him for more than 150 million yen. I wonder what kind of person would buy a piano that is so innovative that it seems only suitable for the inside of a spaceship.

4. place Sound of Harmony grand piano

Price: $1,630,000 (about 175 million yen)

Artistic pianos created by Steinway. This piece was built over three years by Chinese art collector Guo Qingxiang. It uses 40 layers of wood and has a beautiful peacock painted on the body.

One of the reasons for the high value of this piano is that it is not only artistic but also has a very high degree of perfection as an instrument, being the work of a world-famous piano maker. Therefore, when you buy a piano with a whopping amount of about 175 million yen, you can feel the high standard of China.

3rd. Red Pops for (RED)

Price: $1,925,000 (about 200 million yen)

You can see that Steinway pianos, which have a 98% share of the concert market, are among the most expensive in the world. The eye-catching red and white piano was inspired by the vocals of the global rock band U2 and was created with the concept of a piano that would have an overwhelming presence on the charity stage.

It appeared at a charity auction for people fighting AIDS in New York and, as a concept, was placed in the centre of the auction hall. And it was sold for around 200 million yen, the highest price ever for a product sold at a charity auction.

2nd. John Lennon's Steinway

Price: $2,370,000 (about 255 million yen)

Another Steinway piano is on the list. However, unlike the other items featured, it does not have gorgeous decorations or sophisticated designs. Instead, it is a very ordinary piano, simple and uninteresting. So why was it ranked second in the world's highest piano ranking? As you might have guessed from the title, it's because the owner is simply outstanding!

It has been sold a staggering 1 billion times and was owned by John Lennon of the world's greatest band, the Beatles, as certified by Guinness before his death. And the fact that the song "Imagine", which we Japanese know so well, was created by this piano led to an incredible price, which resulted in a sale of around 255 million yen.

So you may wonder who paid that much for the world's second most expensive piano? Like John Lennon, it is owned by the world-famous English pop star "George Michael", who is said to compose on the historic piano.

1st place Crystal Piano

Price: $3,220,000 (about 355 million yen)

At the top of the list of the world's most expensive pianos is a crystal piano made by a traditional piano maker called "Heinzmann".

Speaking of crystal pianos, KAWAI's crystal piano, favoured by Yoshiki of X-Japan, is very famous. FiveHowever, units will be sold for 100 million yen for a limited time, and if you only look at the price, it could have been included. Still, it was excluded because the same crystal piano is upward compatible.

The most significant difference to the KAWAI crystal piano is the material. The KAWAI is finished with acrylic resin, but this crystal piano is made of "real crystal". Combining stunning clarity and luxury, this piano was unveiled at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and captivated the audience.

Afterwards, when it was put up for auction, it sold for about 355 million yen, which was the overwhelming number one. According to information, a Chinese millionaire won the bid. Still, it may be the most expensive piano in history, born out of a strong desire not to give the piano used in the Olympic Games held in China to other countries.

Summary

So there you have it. We often hear about super-expensive stringed instruments such as Stradivarius and Guadagnini, which usually cost over $100 million. Still, there have also been many pianos that cost more than $100 million. Compared to stringed instruments, pianos were ranked with various episodes rather than the brand or chronological value, which was exciting.

And again, I feel that Steinway, the world's number one piano maker, was strong. It was a ranking that clearly showed how many famous musicians loved it.