There is an illustration on p. 172 of a Harpsichord which is in the South Kensington Museum, and in the same collection are others, varying in types as instruments, and of different decorations. The one which belonged to Handel is a good specimen of the decoration bestowed on these instruments. Others of about the middle of the eighteenth century, were covered with a coating of lacquer, like some of the furniture referred to in Chapter VI., the parts of the cases to be so decorated having been sent to China, and returned when coated with the preparation, then only known to the Chinese, but afterwards imitated in Europe. Some of these lacquered cases are very beautiful, and those which were elaborately painted in the Vernis Martin style, are finished with the care of cabinet pictures or miniatures. They have, as a rule, the fine subject painting, or landscape, inside the lid of the case, as in the illustration on p. 172, while the outside of the case is decorated with arabesques of gold on a dark colored ground. Such an Instrument was sold at the sale of Lord Lonsdale's furniture, a few years ago, for some three hundred pounds. The rectangular shape appears to have been partially abandoned for the "Wing form," of which the modern "Grand" is a development, about the time of Queen Anne, and was, in some cases, adapted to the Harpsichord of the time. The earlier pianofortes were rectangular in form, with the idea of preventing the unequal appearance produced by the bent treble side of the Grand, and the writer has in his possession such an instrument, without pedals, which bears the inscription:--"By Royal Patent. Longman and Broderip, Musical Instrument makers, 13, Haymarket, and 26, Cheapside, London." Collard and Collard are the successors of this firm, and still retain the same premises in Cheapside. The oldest Broadwood _piano_, at present on exhibition in Vienna, bears the name of "Schudi and Broadwood," with date 1780. It is square and without pedals. Towards the end of the last century pianos were made to harmonize with the Adam, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton furniture of the day, and some were elaborately inlaid with small plaques of Wedgwood's Jasper ware. There are also instruments in existence, and designs, which shew that as the style of furniture changed during the time of the French Revolution, and subsequently to the Classic Greek, the Piano followed the new fashion. There is in St. James's Palace the instrument made by Broadwood for the Princess Charlotte, who died early in the nineteenth century. This is square in form, and is veneered with a single sheet of ivory, the elephant's tusk having been first softened by acid, and then cut circular fashion. In France, the older Harpsichord and the later Pianoforte have followed the different styles which have affected the decorative furniture of that country, and the same remark applies to the more limited productions of such instruments in other countries.