SOREN JENSEN PIANO

The instrument was completely refurbished by David Estey of New Jersey. David is a professional piano restorer and remembers this piano very well. I can provide the restoration records (which are somewhere in my files). The restoration was done in about 1990. My Uncle, James Keith Moorhead was the owner of the piano at the time. He had purchased it at an antique shop in NYC for about $10,000 in 1989. The instrument was then in his house in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. He hired Mr. Estey to do a full restoration upon the instrument at a cost of about $20,000.

Soren Jensen studied under Carl Bechstein, the famous German piano maker. Soren Jensen opened his own piano factory in about 1893 in Denmark. The factory closed in 1921, and so, not too many of these pianos exist. The Dania model was created at the time of the factory opening. Several special cabinets were created by special order and few remain around the world.

The piano I own is one of those. It was built somewhere between 1893 and 1900 and does not have a model number inside the piano because it is a one-of-a-kind cabinet. The Soren Jensen logo is engraved in the harp of the piano. I have seen only two other special cabinet Dania for sale in Denmark. One is not quite as ornate or sturdy as this instrument and is in relative disrepair, needs cleaning and partial refurbishing and is listed at about $20,000. Upon appraisal, I was told that my instrument is worth about $50,000 to $100,000. This is a very rare instrument that is in excellent condition with only very minor repairs needed (that aren’t necessary and do not minimize the value of the instrument). There is only one similar to it for sale in Denmark for 50,000 Euros (about $55,000 USD). Here is the link for that instrument (which is similar to mine, in design, but the mother-of-pearl inlay is not as ornate). https://pianokartano.selz.com/item/kaytetty-soren-jensen-butterfly

Here is a list of the minor repairs (there are no major repairs necessary):

1) Both of the hinges that hold up the butterfly top boards need new screw holes. The board props, themselves, are in perfect condition, but the holes in the piano that receive the board prop screws appear to be stripped. This is not a difficult fix and can be achieved by simply filling the holes with wood putty and re-screwing the existing screws into the dried putty. Even so, the screws currently rest in the holes without any danger of the lid collapsing.

2) The piano bench is partially reupholstered. I have a friend that can professionally reupholster the bench in your choice of fabric for approximately $100-$200. The frame of the bench is in perfect condition. It actually has the original upholstery on it, which is rather worn out and has become stringy. The filling is not coming out (yet) and it is very comfortable).

3) I noticed a piece of the Lyre Post has been chipped off. This repair can be done by 3D imaging the opposing side of the Lyre Post and then reproducing the 3D image from wood and gluing it to the post.

Other than the above, I believe everything to be in excellent condition. I've noted a few things I observed up close.
• All keys are ebony and ivory. The strings are in perfect condition. The cabinet is in perfect condition.
• All the pads are in perfect condition. No wear. The action is excellent.
• The soundboard is in excellent condition.
• The piano SOUNDS great and has an excellent tone. The piano will need a tuning after it is moved. 

Soren Jensen Dania model (this photo taken approximately 1990)

Soren Jensen – Dania – Music Scroll and keyboard – right side of butterfly open

Soren Jensen – Dania – Right side

Soren Jensen – Dania – front view with matching bench and mother-of-pearl inlay

Soren Jensen Dania – front view with matching bench.