Cité de la Musique Paris, France

The Cité de la Musique (“City of Music”), also known as Philharmonie 2, is a group of institutions dedicated to music and situated in the Parc de la Villette, 19th arrondissement of Paris, France.

It was designed with the nearby Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) by the architect Christian de Portzamparc and opened in 1995.

Plastic Violin Cité de la Musique, Paris, Serial Number 495

Dimensions Total length 590mm. Body length 352 mm. Body width med 325 mm. Bottom body width 207 mm. Materials plastic. Serial number 4950 Acquisition Purchase – 10/1997 Location at the Museum Not exhibited. Cité de la Musique, Paris Produced: Serial Number: 495 possibly 585 Comments: This is one of the short production violins developed and hand assembled by Mario Maccaferri in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The serial number listed in the description(4950) does not line up with the number produced.  A sticker at the base of the neck shown in the images reads “585”. While not visible in the images each

Read More »

1933 6 String Hawaiian Model (Cité de la musique) Serial Number 126

Manufactured under the direction of Maccaferri. “Hawaiian” model. 6 metal strings. Mahogany plywood body, fitted with the patented resonator system. Without cutaway. Softwood table. Walnut handle. Movable easel. Dimensions Total length 973mm. Body width med 638 mm. Bottom body width 402 mm. Materials mahogany plywood, softwood, walnut, metal. Marks and inscriptions iron mark on the handle: Maccaferri Pat. No. 1043 / Henri / Selmer / Paris. Label in the box: Made in France / under the technical direction / of / M. Maccaferri / Selmer et Cie. + on the left: n° [manuscript] 126 in Paris. + right [handwritten]: Hawaiian.

Read More »

1932-Concert Harpe model​ Cité de la Musique, Paris-Serial Number 278

9 strings. Mahogany case (probably Entandophragma Useful). “Horn” continuing the sound box to the level of the pegboard covered with a mahogany plate stained black to match the ebony fingerboard. Handle, height adjustable, in walnut. Spruce soundboard (Picea excelsa). Rio rosewood bridge (Dalbergia nigra). Cellulose varnish applied by spray gun. Marks and inscriptions Printed label stuck in the body: “Selmer” / Maccaferri” with “Paris” underneath (but made in Mantes) * “Made in France” * 2 cartridges intended to receive the type and serial number handwritten mentions. Cité de la Musique Paris, France Photos and Description Courtesy of  Cité de la

Read More »