Jean-Baptiste Colin Duchêne – ca. 1845

Description

Jean-Baptiste Colin Duchêne was born in 1815. Together with Claude Charles Husson he established the company “Husson et Duchêne” in Paris in 1839. Later he lived and worked in Nancy and died there in 1889. Not only did he build beautiful romantic guitars during his productive period, but also lovely valuable violins.
This small romantic guitar from 1845 is a real treasure and richly crested with mother of pearl inlays. Especially the rosette is an eye catcher. Delicately made mother of pearl flowers and arms contrast beautifully to the dark background. The eleven-rowed binding and the bridge pins show lovely mother of pearl decoration as well. The top is made of spruce, back and sides are laminated with dark ebony that only shows fine brown grain when looked at closely. Also the neck and the head are veneered with ebony. When you turn the guitar around it reveals a surprise on the back: There is a finely worked oval picture of two ladies sitting on a patio in front of a green background absorbed in playing and singing. The mutual use of paint and mother of pearl gives the picture specific elegance and depth. The sound of the guitar is mellow with singing trebles, warm mids and soft basses. The instrument shows several repaired cracks and signs of playing. The tuners are original, made by Jerôme and in excellent condition. A hard-shell case is included.