- 411
Guitar--Jean-Benjamin La Borde
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 GBP
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Description
- Fine contemporary illuminated manuscript of "Receuil D'airs avec Accompagnement de Guittare"
- ink on paper
containing twenty-four airs, vaudevilles and romances, written in brown ink for solo voice and for five-course guitar notated in tablature, each song within a fine hand-coloured engraved border, with titles and illuminated flowers applied with stencils,
60 pages, oblong 4to (c.20 x 26cm), with c.90 further pages laid out with hand-coloured borders, watermarks of "Vryheid"/ "C & I Honig" (cf Churchill 87) and of fleur-de-lys monogrammed "VDL" (similar to Heawood 1838; Churchill 404), contemporary red morocco gilt, flat spine elaborately gilt in compartments ("Recueil d'airs de guitarre"), silk doublures, probably c.1770-1790, slight printing through from the gilt stencils,
60 pages, oblong 4to (c.20 x 26cm), with c.90 further pages laid out with hand-coloured borders, watermarks of "Vryheid"/ "C & I Honig" (cf Churchill 87) and of fleur-de-lys monogrammed "VDL" (similar to Heawood 1838; Churchill 404), contemporary red morocco gilt, flat spine elaborately gilt in compartments ("Recueil d'airs de guitarre"), silk doublures, probably c.1770-1790, slight printing through from the gilt stencils,
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
This is a beautiful and meticulously prepared manuscript with guitar tablature, illustrated in colour and gilt and presenting twenty-four airs by the aristocratic musician Jean-Benjamin La Borde (1734-1794). La Borde was valet du chambre to Louis XV from 1762 to 1774, principally as court composer. He studied with Rameau, composed many opéras-comiques and collections of chansons, wrote an important Essai sur la musique and was finally guillotined under Robespierre. There are twenty-four pieces in all, including 'Mes chers troupeaux', 'Viens Eglé dans la Prairie', ' Ma plus chère Brebis', 'Un jour sur la fougère', 'Depuis que le cruel Amour' (quoted in La Borde's Essai), 'Adieu donc dame françoise', 'Depuis que l'aimable Thémire' and others.
For La Borde's Essai sur la musique, please see lot 528.