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a small vase with a design on it on a gray surfacea very large musical instrument in the middle of a rooma vase that is sitting on a stand in a rooma guitar case that is on display in a storea very large musical instrument that is on display in a storea very large musical instrument in the middle of a rooma clock that is sitting on a table in a rooma suitcase with a floral design on it sitting on the grounda close up of a chair with flowers on ita close up of a piece of fabric with flowers on ita close up of a suitcase with flowers painted on ita close up view of a piece of wood with a knife in ita suitcase with a floral design on it sitting on the grounda close up of a chair with flowers on ita close up of a piece of fabric with flowers on ita close up of a suitcase with flowers painted on ita close up view of a metal object in a wooden boxa close up view of a metal object in a wooden box
HOTEL des VENTES de COULOMMIERS

86 - Cécilium, with its bow, made of wood painted with a floral d…
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Sale commission
Description
Cécilium, with its bow, made of wood painted with a floral design on a celadon background. Maker unknown. Height 123 cm. (Woodworm damage, cracks; in need of restoration). Invented in 1862 in Normandy by the composer Arthur Quentin de Gromard, the cécilium is a unique hybrid musical instrument belonging to the free-reed wind family. Behind its appearance as a flat wooden cello lies an accordion mechanism. The instrument is played without a bow: the left hand moves across a button keyboard on the neck, using the classical fingering of string instruments, whilst the right hand moves a transverse handle back and forth to supply air to a double internal bellows. Historically available in soprano, tenor and bass ranges, only around 500 céciliums were ever produced.
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About the sale SALE: JEWELLERY – SILVERWARE – FASHION – TOYS – GLASSWARE – DISPLAY ITEMS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Auction location
Auction time 09/19/2026 at 1:30 PM
Pictures modified on 09/15/2026 at 8:04 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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