A Franco-Flemish double-manual harpsichord, originally a 'transposing' harpsichord made in Antwerp in 1617 by an unknown maker.  It was given a bass ravalement in Paris sometime between 1742 and 1750.  Then it received a major alteration when it was lavishly decorated and given a further bass ravalement in 1750 by François Étienne Blanchet.  Later is was given a treble ravalement in 1786 by Jacques Barberini and Nicolas Hoffmann.

 

 

The FRONT FLAP DECORATED INSIDE AND OUT!

These photographs show the decoration on the outside (top) and on the inside (bottom) of the front flap before they were restored.

The front flap decorations have, at this stage, been cleaned of the linseed-oil varnish, probably added by Arnold Dolmetsch, but have not yet been restored.

The top photograph shows the Forge Scene which begins the Triumph of Love sequence, that then carries on around the cheek, bentside and tail.  The bottom photograph shows the unique decoration of the inside of the front flap, which is clearly in the style of Francois Boucher.  This surface, of course, is never ever seen and so is both very well preserved and is highly unusual and somewhat atypical of the work of Boucher.  Clearly, as with the decoration of the spine side of the instrument, this is a good example of the lavish decoration of this instrument on which no expense was spared!