French Musical Instruments

Set of BS 404 speakers by Joseph Léon for Elipson, 1960s France. This iconic pair is considered a remarkable example of French modernist audio design. Originally designed for the pro...

Please note: We are available to directly assist with coordinating pickup and delivery by trusted professionals experienced in transporting historic and concert-grade pianos. This b...

Please note: We are available to directly assist with coordinating pickup and delivery by trusted professionals experienced in transporting historic and concert-grade pianos. This Erard parallel-strung grand piano, crafted in Paris in 1845 (serial number: 18725), has been extraordinarily well-tended, restored and maintained, enduring today as not only a spectacular example of the pinnacle of 19th Century piano design - characterized by its innovative construction and exceptional sonoral qualities - but also as a premium instrument by the most advanced modern standards, concert-ready for world-class, discriminating performers and their audiences. Erard was a renowned piano manufacturer established by Sébastien Erard, and for much of the 19th Century, the company produced some of the most exquisite and innovative European pianos of the era. The sound produced by this parallel-strung grand piano is characterized by a clarity and transparency that distinguishes it from its contemporaries. The parallel arrangement of strings contributes to a more direct transfer of sound energy, resulting in a balanced and articulate tone across the instrument's registers. This piano's tone is beloved for its sweetness in the treble range and a robust quality in the bass, while also allowing for an especially nuanced and expressive interpretation of the musical repertoire of its era. The ebony and ivory keyboard is a testament to the meticulous attention Erard paid to the tactile experience of playing. Each key is precision-weighted, providing a responsive touch that allows the pianist to articulate a wide range of dynamics and expressiveness. An interior faux tableau latches to the outer case lid in an open position for maximum concert volume, and rests in a lowered position to maintain a softer, more muted experience. The year 1845 places this Erard instrument in the heart of the Romantic era, a period marked by a surge in musical creativity and emotional expression. Composer/performers like Chopin and Liszt were drawn to Erard grand...

An extremely rare museum quality monkey ‘chamber orchestra’ automata musical picture, made in France in c. 1855 and signed ‘Riviere’. The picture is in extraordinarily good origina...

Discover a truly evocative piece of musical folk art: an original three-string violin hand-crafted around 1890-1920 from an official French “Manufacture des Tabacs / République Franç...

This rare upright piano was made by Pleyel in France in September 1871 according to the Pleyel Archives found at Musée de la Musique. The natural wood cabinet is beautifully decorated with hand painted floral garlands. The piano sides are square and it has fluted, columnar legs resting on original castors. The instrument...

French Louis XV-style ormolu mounted kingwood, tulipwood & parquetry grand piano (sgnd C.BECHSTEIN, numbered 20475 for the date 1888)

Please note: We are available to directly assist with coordinating pickup and delivery by trusted professionals experienced in transporting historic and concert-grade pianos. This Pleyel concert grand piano crafted in Paris in 1870 is a timeless masterpiece that embodies the elegance and craftsmanship of 19th-century French piano manufacturing. Pleyel instruments are renowned for their exceptional quality and rich musicality, representing the pinnacle of piano design in the Romantic era, and this piano – an early example of the technological innovation of cross-stringing that was burgeoning during the period – is one in a series of only six ever produced. This piano is in extraordinarily immaculate condition with nearly every original part, including the soundboard, pristine ivory keys, and the brass inlay in its beautifully figured walnut cabinet. Candle stands slide forward on either side of the collapsable music desk. This piano was first purchased by the French Count Charles Étienne Gustave Le Clerc, count of Juigné (1825-1900), one of the wealthiest landowners in Brittany and a member of the French National Assembly, later a member of the House of Representatives, and in late life, the Senate. The piano was restored in 1997 at Maison Erard by master restorationist Frits Janmaat in Amsterdam, and later conditioned by Edwin Beunk. In recent years, some of Europe's finest historically-informed musical artists played this Pleyel in PBS concert performances in collaboration with the late Sergiu Luca. Standing on substantial carved legs and brass wheels, the piano exudes a majestic presence through the graceful lines of its Second Empire style cabinet that embodies the period's aesthetics. The keyboard, meticulously crafted from ivory and ebony, is a testament to the attention to detail in every aspect. Its 85 keys...

Decorate a living room or music salon with this exquisite 18th-century pedal harp. Crafted in France circa 1780, this Louis XVI single-action harp features 36 replaced strings over a...

Attributed to Henry Dasson (d. 1896) Origin: French Date: circa 1885-q890 Dimension: (H) 35 1/4 in x (W) 54 in x (W) 78 in. Provenance: Acquired by Dr. J. T Nieto-Gomez from fi...

This fine antique harp dates from the second half of the 19th century and was made in France by Pleyel, Wolff, Lyon and Cie. The renowned Parisian firm ma...

Portable record player, mid-20th century. Portable record player, untested, mid-20th century, sold as-is. H: 13 cm, W: 39 cm, D: 28 cm Please contact us before ordering to confirm ...

An 1893, Pleyel upright piano with a satinwood cabinet. Entire cabinet features intricate, Neocalssical style inlay. The front panels feature a symmetri...

This 1890s French wooden cello case is a rare and sculptural example of early modernist, almost proto-Cubist design. Crafted from solid wood with fac...

French Victorian double sided music stand with a marquetry inlay of a lyre and flowers

**Cuesnon Paris Saxophone – 20th Century – Original Case – This saxophone is in original, untouched condition, preserved over time and sold with its case. It is sold as found, not...

Threes a crowd and a good sound... When wound and actuated by start/stop lever to side, the three birds take turns to sing passages of the sequential birdsong, moving beaks, heads a...

French Modernist Art Deco piano and bench by Pierre-Paul Montagnac, a variant of the model used in one of the luxe apartments, the Caen, on the great French oceanliner Normandie in 1935. Created in rosewood and sycamore, and carefully and correctly restored, including the fine Erard (#127208) instrument. 56” wide x 60” deep. Documented in numerous sources, including the July 1935 issue of Art et Decoration. Pierre-Paul Montagnac (1883-1961) Born in Saint-Denis, France on 9 May 1883, Pierre-Paul Montagnac was equally talented as a fine artist and a decorative artist. He was educated in both disciplines, studying with Eugene Carriére as well as at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére, both in Paris. His inaugural exhibition was at the 1912 Salons – and at the 1920 Salon d’Automne he received a traveling scholarship. In 1918 he began working in the firm of André Mare and from 1922 collaborated with Maurice Dufrene at La Maîtrise, the famous design studio of Galeries Lafayette. From 1921 he exhibited at the Salons of la Société des Artistes Décorateurs, Salon des Architectes Modernes, and internationally, in Barcelona and Leipzig. He designed suites on the grand French oceanliners, l’Atlantique, Normandie and Pasteur. At the 1925 Paris International Exposition his work was in a standout class. At the 1937 Exhibition he organized the pavillion of the Artistes Decorateurs and personally won a Grand Prix. For the New York Exhibition in 1938, he was a member of the international jury, organized the group of Decorators, and, as architect, organized the exhibitions of jewelry and perfumes. He became a member of the Society of Modern Architects and executed important and numerous architecture and decorating projects including the luxury apartments on the great French oceanliners l’Atlantique, Pasteur, and Normandie. Vice President and then President of the Societe des Artistes Decorateurs from 1930-1938, he was also President of the Salon d’Automne and Vice President of the Committee of the Exhibition of Arts and Embellishments of Life; member of the steering committee of C.T.I. and Artistic Property, member of the Board of Directors of the Central Union of Decorative Arts. He was also an Officer of the Legion of Honor and received the Cross of War. MONTAGNAC was the son of an engineer and he had a taste for geometry and science that predisposed him to the rigors of architectural laws. Multi-talented, he worked independently as a painter – who had paintings acquired by the French government – while also working in the related fields of architecture and decoration. His work included homes, apartments, galleries, luxury shops, banks and the aforesaid oceanliners. As a designer/decorater, Montagnac had the taste for quality, luxurious furniture, using precious woods, bronze extensions, ivory inlays, mother-of-pearl, metal and coral. He advocated for a resolutely modern style and, free of all pastiches, focused on beautiful cabinetry, the challenges of furniture design, particularly from 1940 to 1945, captured all his attention. The tireless activity of Montagnac, whose varied works are represented in official museums and residences, was also recognized from a professional and social point of view. He was a remarkable organizer, devoted to the cause of art, to the defense of the trade and his colleagues. It was Montagnac who, in 1939, with Anatole de Monzie, took the initiative to found the ENTRAIDE to Artists (which provides support to talented young French artists). MOBILIER ET DECORATION, September/October 1953 ERARD An illustrious piano manufacturer, Sebastien Erard began building superior harpsichords in Paris in the mid-1700s, produced pianos for the French Court, and received a multitude of patents, many of which are still in use in piano manufacturing. Erard pianos were marketed as the finest pianos in the world and were owned by Queen Victoria, Franz Liszt, Chopin, Verdi, Ravel, and Felix Mendelssohn among many others. They continued to enjoy international success well into the 20th century. They were known for their unique sound quality, similar to the American square grand piano...

A fine Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted baby grand Piano by Gaveau à Paris. Serial number 67874. This fine baby grand piano has a quarter-veneered top with a stiff leaf cas...

This pair of speakers perfectly illustrates the innovative design and audio technology of mid-20th-century France. Designed in the 1960s, these spherical speakers were initially inte...

System walking: stick with the function of a musical instrument, the flute. Bamboo wood cane. Wooden and mother-of-pearl knob carved and engraved with E M ...

An exceptionally rare French Palais Royal musical sewing box of magnificent diamond sarcophagus form, crafted in finely chased gilt bronze and mounted with exquisitely engraved mother-of-pearl panels, French, circa 1830. The architectural case is adorned throughout with engraved mother-of-pearl panels delicately decorated with floral sprays, framed by richly chased gilt bronze borders and raised upon an elegant pierced gallery base with scrolling foliate feet. The faceted lid is surmounted by a turquoise cabochon finial, completing one of the most sophisticated and desirable designs produced by the celebrated Palais Royal workshops. Opening the lid reveals a sumptuous ruched silk-lined interior above a fitted crimson velvet tool tray retaining an excellent suite of original carved mother-of-pearl sewing implements, including scissors, needle case, stiletto, bodkin, thread winder, crochet hook and winding key. Beneath the tray is concealed the original musical movement. The movement is fitted with an early segmented steel comb, a feature associated with the finest early nineteenth-century musical mechanisms, and plays two separate airs on a pinned cylinder. Segmented comb movements are considerably scarcer than later one-piece comb examples and are highly prized by collectors for both their early construction and superior tonal quality. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Palais Royal in Paris was Europe's foremost centre for luxury goods, where the finest bronziers, jewellers and tabletiers collaborated to produce exquisite objets de vertu for an international clientele. Musical sewing boxes represented the pinnacle of fashionable luxury, combining practical utility with exceptional craftsmanship and ingenious mechanical design. Examples of this distinctive diamond sarcophagus form are among the rarest Palais Royal sewing...

**Clarinet in Its Case – Malerne Paris Standard – M3649** This clarinet is **sold unrestored / not serviced**. We note that the **mouthpiece is missing**. There are **scratches and...

A magnificent French 19th century Louis XV designed marquetry kingwood Grand Piano . Signed in the bronze by Joseph Zwiener. The finest gilt bronze mounts. 6 legs . The piano works b...

A wonderful turn of the century gilt bronze mounted Louis XVI style six-leg Grand Erard piano Beautiful satinwood veneer, bronze mounts, standing on six legs centered by a stretcher. The movement stamped with Erard serial number 93712 and patent stamps, the interior of the case further stamped F. TURBEC/A LEMOINE, and M. BECKER. Erard is the oldest and most prestigious French piano manufacturer. The firm was founded by Sebastian Erard...

Paul Louis Gastaud (20th) Telephone Radio/ K7 Hi-Fi system embedded in an ABS phone Signed Measures: H 126 × Ø 41 cm Functional Excellent cond...

This 1893, Pleyel grand piano sits on ornately carved french walnut frame, carved with foliage and flowers. The piano has six carved, cabriole legs ...

**Buffet Crampon Saxophone, 20th Century, Paris, France L8892** This saxophone is sold as-is, unserviced and unrestored. It has not been tested. It remains a decorative piece of fin...

Pair of speakers model “ 1401 ” 4-way system, 3 speakers, power up to 80W. Custom-made stands. Manufactured by Elipson in France in 1986. Producer - Elispon. Model - 1401. P...

Music or phonograph cabinet making radio and record player. It is made of veneer and nicely carved.

Wall decoration mirror guitar Infiny made with mirrored led lights with glass and plexiglass creating an infiny mirrored effect. With original and except...

Large Framed Dinner Gong in Mahogany This impressive bronze gong hangs from a well-crafted turned stand. The original hand-crafted gong offers a substantial sound, when struck wi...

A spectacular French mid-19th century, circa 1855, Louis XVI st. tulipwood parquetry and ormolu mounted, Model 2 Concert Grand Piano, signed Pleyel...

An antique coin-operated large double singing birds-in-cage, by Bontems, French circa 1900 Spend a penny in style When wound and a 1d. coin inse...

Antique Pyrenees Mountain Cow Bell in Brass   A wonderful detection device used by cattle farmers in the Pyrenees mountains.   The handmade leather strap adorned with copper rivets a...

Originally used in a church, this impressive French hand-forged iron music stand is designed so that a musician can stand on each side. Candleholders extend on the left and right to ...

Pelham Galleries Ltd Dealers in Antiques & Works of Art Established in 1928. First Edition catalog circa 2000 with black pictorial wraps; Unpaginated, profusely illustrated with color photos. Text is in English. The catalog contains fine furniture and decorative items, accompanied by extensive descriptions, including a beautiful harpsichord probably by the Couchet family of Antwerp, a pair of 17th century Neapolitan cabinets with painted glass panels, a pair of George II giltwood console...

Listen to soft, cheerful music in your living room with this traditional, antique music box. Crafted in Paris, France circa 1920, the wood case with inlaid decor, has black painted ...

Small French military bugle made of brass and copper with missing mouthpiece. France, circa 1900.

Neoclassical rosewood & brass clarinet table lamp mounted on a round metal base made in France. Comes with harp and carved gilt wood finial an...

20th Century Luché "ELCE" mechanical piano, France. Roller and crank in perfect working condition.  

A French Gothic Wrought Iron Music Stand, 19th Century Description: With a knopped stem rising to a scroll body supporting a pierced music support depicting a twin-headed eagle to t...

A French Gothic Wrought Iron Music Stand, 19th Century Description: Hand wrought with tripod base continuing to an elaborate scrollwork stand with openwork bookplate featuring a dou...

Listen to soft, cheerful music in your living room with this traditional, antique music box. Crafted in Paris, France circa 1900, the tulip wood case...

Henri Fugere, bronze figure, ' Bebe Tapin ' signed in the bronze. French Boy playing his drum. Henry Fugere, a well listed artist. Mr. Fugere was born in ...

A very rare Louis XVI period serinette or bird organ in the form of a transitional style gilt bronze mounted and marquetry inlaid miniature commode in the manner of gilbert, by Robert Richard, Paris. With a label for ' RICHARD - maitre facteur d’orgues et mécanicien / Rue de richelieu à la bibliothèque Du Roy / Paris 1775'. This rare Serinette or Bird Organ has a wooden cylinder barrel mounted by twelve pins and linked to twelve sound pipes. A crank attached to the front panel controls the bellows that activates the mechanism. The exceptional marquetry inlaid case is in the form of a gilt bronze mounted transitional style miniature commode. The top of the commode is inlaid with a landscape scene with buildings, opening to an interior with an allegory of Love Conquering All, represented by two doves perching on a bow and quiver. The front of the commode depicts two obelisks centred by a Fine musical trophy and each side is inlaid with panels depicting the Medici Vase. The back of the commode is decorated with floral marquetry. A closely related Serinette dating from circa 1770, also in the form of a miniature commode, with the marquetry case stamped by the master marqueteur Leonard Boudin, is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. The term serinette is derived from serine, French for finch. The instrument worked like a small barrel organ with a barbed cylinder, wind box and lead pipes and produced a high, thin sound in imitation of birds. Other versions included a merline, which copied blackbirds and a turlutaine, which copied curlews. Used to teach caged birds to sing tunes, different barrels could be inserted to train different birds. It first appeared in France circa 1730 and became a popular drawing-room toy for fashionable women. An interesting painting commissioned in 1751 for Louis XV by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin and now in the collection of the Louvre, depicts a refined lady seated in her salon playing a bird organ to encourage her bird to sing. Robert Richard Robert Richard was a Parisian organ and harpsichord maker and the mécanicien du roi to Louis XV and Louis XVI and was based in the Bibliothèque du Roi in rue de Richelieu. Initially working alongside the Cliquot family who acted as 'facteur d'orgue du Roi', he is recorded as building an organ for the church of Notre-Dame de Quebec, in Montreal in 1753 (destroyed in 1759) and as the inventor of a mechanical concert shown in an engraving by d'Eisen in 1769. Canon Jean Marie De La Corne described Robert Richard as : ''Le plus habile ouvrier de paris, fameux mechanitien et Homme de probité''. French, Dated 1775. Literature: Pierre Kjellberg, The French Furniture of the 17th century, The Editions of the Amateur, 2008 Count Francois de Salverte, Cabinetmakers of the 18th century, Editions of Art and History, 1934 Raymond Russell, Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue of Musical Instruments, Volume I - Keyboard Instruments,(London, 1968; p. 69.) Elizabeth Miller...