Bidspirit auction | GEORGES COUSINEAU AND JACQUES-GEORGES COUSINEAU

GEORGES COUSINEAU AND JACQUES-GEORGES COUSINEAU (Paris, 18th century) 34-string harp with chinoiserie decoration, 18th century - Lacquered wood with oriental decoration. Dimensions: 160 cm high. Elegant 34-string French harp with a modiglion decorated with oriental scenes lacquered in the chinoiserie style, a type of ornamentation especially prized in 18th-century European furniture and musical instruments. The fluted column retains the complete seven-pedal system, an innovation introduced by the renowned Cousineau family of makers, whose production marked a turning point in the instrument's technical evolution. Georges Cousineau and his son Jacques-Georges were among the most prestigious harp makers in 18th-century Paris, perfecting the pedal system that significantly expanded the instrument's musical possibilities. This particular harp features refined lacquer decoration with oriental-inspired motifs, characteristic of the chinoiserie style that dominated European decorative art during the Rococo period. These instruments not only served a musical function but also constituted a prestigious element in the aristocratic and bourgeois salons of the time. Condition: Four strings missing. Lot in international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipment: No import duties apply within the EU. Export permit from the country of origin may be required.