Made as a decoration of a grand piano, undertaken by E.B.J. for William Graham, M.P. in 1879 and finished in 1880. The two sides of the lid "were treated as separate complete panels, the inside being covered in the former year, with the nude figure of earth, surrounded by a swarm of babies... among the arabesques of the vine; and in the latter, the Poet and half length figure of Music, were painted on the outside, while the decoration was completed by ELEVEN LITTLE CIRCULAR PANELS AROUND THE SIDES REPRESENTING THE STORY OF ORPHEUS..." (M. Bell p. 80. Edward Burne Jones, A Record and Review, George Bell and Sons, 1892).
Burne-Jones's friendship with William De Morgan is well known and one copper lustre dish with Orpheus playing his harp at its centre is acknowledged to having been designed by Burne-Jones. This is dated c.1880, but we consider it to be c.1875. Many of De Morgan's early figurative designs were inspired by Burne-Jones and it is here suggested that this early series roundels of Orpheus made 1872 were to be used as designs for ceramic plaques by De Morgan. AS yet no plaques have appeared and the project may have proved too difficult and the abandoned designs were later adapted for the Graham piano.