Guitar Thought To Be Gifted By Marie Antoinette Heads To Auction

Marie Antoinette was one of the few French royals who transcended history and captivated generations with her beguiling demeanor and lavish life. One of the things she was known to enjoy was music. The queen played several instruments with and for those within her circle.

 
A delicately crafted guitar believed to be one of them is now going under the gavel with the auction house Augettes on December 9.

The “Trianon guitar”—named after her Petit Trianon, a chateau gifted to her by her husband King Louis XVI—is a rare boat-shaped instrument known as “en bâteau.” It has ivory rosettes and a pair of doves representing the “Temple of Love” from the Trianon estate.
 
It is believed that the guitar was crafted in 1775 by Jacques-Philippe Michelot. The queen had purchased it to gift to one in her inner circle, Marquise de La Rochelambert-Thévalles.

The marquise often performed and sang with the queen. Her parents were also regulars in the king’s court.
 
That being said, there are no official records that it was gifted to her by Marie Antoinette. The instrument, however, has been well preserved by the marquise’s surviving family, who has presented it to Augettes for the auction.

Augettes posits that it will sell for €80,000 (US$84,000). It is currently on display in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, until Thursday.
 
 
 
[via CNN and Artnet News, images via Augettes]