Chris Maene Workshop

Chris Maene was born in 1953 and learned the branch of instrument builder in the piano workshop of his parents, Albert Maene en Zulma Doutreloigne, in Ruiselede in Belgium. At the age of 16 Chris Maene made his first harpsichord and at the age 21 he built a copy of a Dulcken fortepiano from 1794. The interest that Chris Maene cherished for the harpsichord as well as the fortepiano and the modern piano is remarkable for a piano constructor today. The influence that these instruments have on each other has created a multitude of knowledge and skills on top of a never seen diversity. These achievements were the beginning of Chris Maene’s current workshop, where he is assisted by 10 staff members, who have their own specialty, by building and renovating a steadily growing offer of fortepianos and harpsichords.

In 2004, the Chris Maene Workshop received, as first and only throughout the world, the permission to build a replica of the first (and oldest saved) Steinway piano: the so called Steinway N° 1 – Kitchen piano from 1836. It became a success story, which was not only filmed in a documentary by Bram Crols, but also travelled around the world: the Steinway N° 1 replica is used for concerts by Steinway throughout the world. This project was the proverbial cherry on top of the cake for Chris Maene and his staff members, as well as the result of 70 years of experience and three generations of Maene instrument building.

Fascinated by master instrument builders from the past, Chris Maene also collects historical keyboard instruments. They are often rare pieces and some of them are restored for concerts and CD recordings.
The museum of Chris Maene consists of approximately 170 different keyboard instruments. Every day, a strong team of workshop employees engages their self in the rehabilitation of old keyboard instruments, the maintenance of old and new pianos and their construction.