Usado, Pleyel, 3/4 (220)

Extremely rare Pleyel grand piano (handcrafted in France) from 1924, number 17839, with original “Auto Pleyela” self playing mechanism in a spectacular Chinoiserie Louis XV case signed by the French artist Leo Huillard.

The scarlet lacquered and gilt gesso decoration of the case depicts birds and flowering branches; the underside of the top is painted with birds in a landscape on an old gold ground.

Originally supplied to Monsieur Roger Sudreau, a well known and fabulously weathly figure within New York and Parisian society during the early part of the 20th century; most recently owned by David Winston, Restorer and Conservator of Pianos to HM the Queen and one of the world’s leading makers and restorers of keyboard instruments.

Mr. Winston has fully restored both the piano and the pianola. An exceptional and historically important instrument encased in a work of art.