It looks like a large coffee table, unnoticed by most visitors at the National Museum of Art, in Valletta. Yet, this non-descript wooden box is actually a prestigious piano about to be brought to life again.

The late 18th century square piano – which is actually rectangular – was discovered during the ongoing research for Muża, the new arts museum to be located at the Auberge d’Italie.

George Debono examines the prestigious square piano. Photo: Matthew Mirabellli

According to senior museum curator Sandro Debono, this little-known square piano is an early example of its type, dateable to about 1780 or even earlier.

“The type and make of the piano is similar to 18th century pianos made by renowned piano-maker Christopher Ganer,” Mr Debono told Times of Malta. The piano was “singled out” as “quite a rarity” by the UK Historic Furniture Society and experts at Victoria and Albert. Similar pianos can sell at up to €10,000 at auctions.

Unlike other pianos, the square types were popular for about 100 years and, apart from the one at the Art Museum, there are only a couple of others in Malta, in private collections.

Instruments are not there to be looked at but to be played on

The aim of the museum is now to restore it and bring it back to life. Its sound will then be recorded and used as a soundscape within the museum, to inspire visitors.

“Sound is part of memory and we will try to get back a memory lost and put it back in its context among paintings of the early 18th century,” said Mr Debono.

Preliminary findings suggest that the piano can be restored as a fully functional instrument. The restoration team includes George Debono, who will focus on making the piano play again, Josef Aquilina, a wood restorer-conservator, and Martina Caruana, a music researcher.

Dr Debono, who will have the painstaking task of bringing back the sound, quipped that he felt like Geppetto. “Instruments are not there to be looked at but to be played on.” He said square pianos were a rarity these days because, at some point, they fell out of favour and many were thrown away. The Art Museum square piano, he pointed out, has “a lovely inlay”, which distinguished it from common square pianos.

“In its previous life, this square piano was probably set in a well-off household,” he said.

A workshop on Muża and how it can be a muse to creativity will be held tomorrow at St. James Cavalier, Valletta from 9am to 1pm.