A Consultation and Restoration of a Franco-Flemish harpsichord

The History and Restoration

of a

Stunning Franco-Flemish

Double-manual Harpsichord

Antwerp, 1617 - Paris, 1750 - 1786

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images and detailed information about this splendid instrument

This part of my site is about a Franco-Flemish double-manual harpsichord, originally a transposing harpsichord made in Antwerp in 1617 which then, much later, was ravalé in Paris in several stages during the period from c.1735 - 1786. This instrument has an amazing history ranging across much of Western Europe, the United States and South America. It seems to have played an important role in the social an musical life of the French Court at the time of Louis XV. It seems likely that was given its extravagant decoration because of its amazing sound: it is, indeed, still today one of the most important and one of the finest-sounding instruments in the history of French harpsichord making. But its history does not stop there an it also turns out to be a very important document in the history of the modern revival of interest in the harpsichord and its music. Its modern history involves some very important figures who influenced major world events - not necessarily involving music nor furniture decoration!