Why are there no dampers on the high notes in my piano?

People often wonder if something is missing or has been removed from their piano because there are no dampers for the 18 or so highest notes. Pianos are actually designed to perform without the need for the upper dampers since the shorter strings in this high treble section have very little in the way of natural sustain. Additionally, the open, undamped strings of the high treble add tone color to the entire piano range by vibrating sympathetically when lower chords are struck.