A Steinway Masterpiece Collection Featuring Studio PaelisStraw Marquetry
Traditional craftsmanship meets musical excellence
The Straw Marquetry Masterpiece Collection was created in collaboration with Studio Paelis, a straw marquetry atelier based in Lyon. The collection showcases the historic, decorative art of straw marquetry, applied to the inside of the lid and the music desk of the limited-edition grand piano, uniting centuries-old craftsmanship with the musical excellence of Steinway & Sons.
Two Distinctive Designs
Classic Sunburst
The straws are arranged to radiate outward like rays of sunlight from a central point, creating a breathtaking interplay of light on the inside of the lid and the music desk.
Concentric Waves
Drawing its inspiration from sound itself, the straws are arranged in gentle, flowing rings that spread outward like waves on water, evoking the invisible movement of music through the air.
Three Color VariationsNatural, Blue, and Black
These hues, which are central to the identity of Studio Paelis, were a natural choice for this collaboration: their softness, depth, and visual strength reflect the understated elegance that distinguishes the Steinway universe, lending each instrument a serene presence.
The finest craftsmanship
An extraordinary decorative technique
Straw marquetry is distinguished by its natural golden shimmer and its remarkable luminosity. Originating in Europe in the early 17th century, straw inlay has long been prized for its silky sheen and vivid hues — an extraordinary decorative technique used to embellish fine furniture and objects, and held in the highest regard alongside the rarest of materials.
Studio Paelis works exclusively with rye straw sourced from a grain farmer in Burgundy. Each stalk is delivered in its natural, tubular form, then split by hand and flattened into a supple, lustrous ribbon before being applied individually to create direction, rhythm, and pattern. For each Steinway grand piano, this process alone represents approximately one month of work for a single person.
Innovative technology
All instruments are equipped with Steinway’s Spirio | r, the world’s most advanced high-resolution player system. Using Steinway’s patented sensor system, Spirio | r captures every nuance of hammer strikes and pedal playing, and SPIRIOCAST makes it possible to share performances in real time between Steinway Spirio grand pianos around the world.
Limited Edition
With this Limited Masterpiece Collection, Steinway & Sons continues its tradition of creating extraordinary instruments that unite musical excellence with the finest traditions of craftsmanship and design. The collection is produced in a strictly limited edition: • Model B (211 cm): 18 instruments per color for each design • Model D (274 cm): 8 instruments per color for each design
