3D Printing a Missing Decorative Piano Column (1901 Bush & Lane Upright)
Brigham Larson PianosAt Brigham Larson Pianos, we often say that restoration is equal parts craftsmanship and problem-solving. Sometimes, that problem involves recreating something that hasn’t existed for over a century.
In this case, we were working on a beautifully restored 1901 Bush & Lane upright piano—a truly stunning instrument that deserved every bit of care we could give it. While the piano itself had undergone a complete restoration, one detail remained: a missing decorative column piece.
Watch Video: 3D Printing Missing Decorative Piano Column 1901 Bush & Lane Upright Piano
The Challenge
This wasn’t just any missing part—it was an ornate, hand-carved decorative column, full of intricate curves and scrollwork. Recreating something like this by hand would be incredibly time-consuming and expensive.
And because there are four of these decorative elements on the piano, the replacement had to match perfectly.
The Solution: 3D Scanning + Printing
To solve this, we turned to modern technology:
- We 3D scanned one of the intact columns
- The scan created a high-resolution point map (100,000+ points)
- From that, we generated a digital model of the piece
From there, we tested two different printing methods:
- Filament printing (black prototype)
- Resin printing (higher-detail brown version)
The resin version gave us the best detail—crucial for matching the original craftsmanship.
Perfect Fit Engineering
One of the trickiest parts wasn’t just recreating the shape—it was attaching it seamlessly.
So we:
- Scanned the broken area on the piano
- Created a custom negative imprint on the back of the new piece
The result?
A precision-fit part that practically snaps into place.
Watch Video: Watch a 3D Printer Recreate a 120-Year-Old Decorative Piano Piece
The Final Step: Making It Invisible
Now comes the art side again:
- Painting
- Blending
- Hiding seams
The goal is simple:
Make it completely indistinguishable from the original.
When done right, no one will ever know it wasn’t always there.
Old Meets New
This project is a perfect example of how traditional piano restoration meets modern technology.
A 120+ year-old piano…
Restored using tools that didn’t exist even 10 years ago.
And the result?
A piano that looks—and feels—whole again.
