Having long admired Steinway & Sons, Lenny Kravitz teamed up with Steinway to design the Kravitz Grand Limited Edition of 10 Model B Steinways. For this personal passion project, Lenny and his Kravitz Design team dissected every aspect of the Steinway’s construction, looking at the case, action and even the screws to create a completely new look unlike anything Steinway has ever produced.
The Kravitz Grand is inspired by African themes from painting, sculpture and fabric design via the Paris art scene of the 1920s. Art Deco styling is juxtaposed with African motifs in an eclectic one-of-a-kind work of art. Fine materials and stunning attention to detail harken to the glamour of this era.
The Kravitz Grand features hand-carved motifs on the rim, inner lid, and music desk — requiring over 200 hours of carving by Steinway artisans — and hand-carved, block-style legs in black ebony finish.
The Steinway is comprised of 15 layers of hard rock maple and rare Macassar ebony, personally selected by Lenny Kravitz for the exterior.
Stunning design elements include a “crackle” metallic finish on the cast-iron plate and solid bronze castings for the top stick and pedal lyre, envisioned by Kravitz Design and cast by Modern Art Foundry. Custom metal finishes also adorn the pedals, along with brass music trays, hinges, and a numbered brass edition plaque. The keys are done in ebony and matte cream, and the handcrafted bench features Macassar ebony from the same flitch of wood found on the instrument and a faux cheetah print fabric.
Solid bronze cast pedal lyre designed by Kravitz Design and cast by Modern Art Foundry. Modern Art Foundry is coincidentally located next to the Steinway factory in the former Steinway mansion carriage house — and specializes in art-grade bronze castings.
The Kravitz Grand comes equipped as a revolutionary Spirio | r, the world’s finest high resolution player piano capable of live performance capture and high resolution recording and playback, giving life to your Steinway with performances from the world’s greatest pianists in a constantly updated and growing library. A revolutionary blend of artistry, craftsmanship, and technology, Spirio | r provides new tools of expression and new ways to access, share, and experience performance.
Attention to detail and materials are evident throughout the unique design. The finishing touch is the Steinway and Spirio logos inlaid in faux tortoise by Pearl Works.
Attention to detail and materials are evident throughout the unique design. The finishing touch is the Steinway and Spirio logos inlaid in faux tortoise by Pearl Works.
Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) is one of New York City’s pioneering arts institutions focused on preserving access to the arts for every child, transforming the lives of tens of thousands of young people through world-class training in music, dance, theatre and art & design. HSA is committed to leveling the playing field by empowering young people from across the cultural and socio-economic spectrum.
Steinway & Sons has a decade-long relation with this important institition and is thrilled to partner with HSA in support of arts education.
