 They were gradually replaced by upright pianos, which had a smaller footprint and larger sound.Square pianos were owned by everyone from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to Marie Antoinette and Jane Austen.In the 1860s, more extensive metal frames were developed for square grand pianos, meaning that higher string tensions and therefore greater volumes were possible; however the size increases meant that the upright piano design was more economical, and so the upright replaced the square as the most common home instrument.