In 2022, the now-defunct National Institute of Heritage of National Thought purchased the piano from a Swiss collector, claiming it belonged to Paderewski. An investigation by Wirtualna Polska revealed that the instrument had no ties to the artist, and its true value was significantly lower than the amount paid.
Unmasking the Paderewski piano fraud: how Polish officials were misled
The purchase was made under the direction of Jan Żaryn, the head of the institution linked to the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS). The historian and his associates did not properly verify the authenticity of the piano, despite the cost being covered by state funds.
The Bösendorfer piano sold to the Poles by the Swiss collector did not originate from 1850 and held no historical value. An expert running a piano workshop stated in an interview that the instrument was likely produced much later, in the late 1920s.
Uncovering the fake: Paderewski’s piano lacks authenticity
The number of keys was even incorrect; a 19th-century instrument should have 85 keys, but this one had 88, as was standardized in the following century - just like the counterfeit for which an inflated price was paid. The market value of the item was estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 PLN.
The piano, allegedly belonging to Paderewski, does not appear in any photographs or diaries from his villa in Switzerland, where other instruments were present. The purchase was based solely on the seller's declaration, Jean-Claude Gattlen, who did not guarantee the authenticity of the item.
Leadership change sparks investigation into controversial piano purchase
After the change in leadership at the institute, the new director, Adam Leszczyński, discovered the lack of documentation confirming the piano's authenticity. Experts, including Marek Żebrowski and Professor Dorota Cybulska-Amsler, ruled out any possibility that the instrument had belonged to Paderewski.
Jan Żaryn explained that the purchase was rushed due to an impending budget deadline, and he announced plans to report the matter to the prosecutor's office.
"In connection with the article in WP, I inform you that as the director of the National Institute of Heritage of National Thought (IDMN), I took actions that allowed me to decide to purchase Paderewski's collection. Withdrawing from the purchase could have caused immense harm to Polish culture," he conveyed via social media, acknowledging that he did not thoroughly check the documentation of the item, for which an inflated cost was covered by the state budget.
The historian did not even notice the incorrect logo on the instrument," noted the article's author, journalist Szymon Jadczak from WP.
Ignacy Jan Paderewski was a renowned Polish pianist, composer, and statesman, celebrated for his exceptional musical talent and influential performances in Europe and the United States.
In addition to his musical achievements, he played a significant role in advocating for Polish independence during World War I, earning recognition as a key cultural and political figure in Polish history.
Source: WP
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