André BISSONNET
EARLY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
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Fairground organ - Bissonnet Archives
The expert and early music
An antique dealer and major collector of French folk instruments, particularly mechanical musical instruments, André Bissonnet is a remarkable expert in the world of early musical instruments, from the most famous to the most obscure and surprising. He has always been passionate about patented instruments such as the Mélophone (by Leclerc), the Cécilium (by Arthur Quentin de Gromard), the monochord (by Joseph Poussot), and the double-keyboard cello. One of his great passions is the Serpent and all its derivatives: the Ophymonocleïde, the Forville Serpent, the Russian bassoon with a dragon-head bell, etc., as well as instruments that were produced in very small numbers. Born the grandson and son of a butcher and destined to follow in their footsteps by inheritance, he quickly "cleared his way out," as he puts it, to indulge in a voracious passion for musical collections. André Bissonnet is an extraordinary collector of musical instruments dating back to previous centuries; he is an absolute authority on the subject. Their history, craftsmanship, provenance, and mechanisms hold no secrets for him; he considers them his children or his dearest friends. Each one provides him with a unique sound, warmth, and accompaniment to his voice; in his eyes and ears, they are incomparable and singular. Nothing in the world of music is unknown to him, from horns to violins, flutes, pianos, fairground organs, and other wind instruments... He is always ready to share his passion with those who consult or visit him. After 42 years of loyal service in his antique shop at 6 rue du Pas de la Mule in the Marais, he closed its doors in 2011. In his reconstructed studio-museum in L’Isle-Adam, he never tires of mastering his many instruments, and always seeks out more: he is constantly on the lookout for the rarest of gems. Perhaps one day you will bring him such a rarity for appraisal!Contact
André BISSONNET
83 avenue Giscard d'Estaing
95290 L’Isle-Adam
+33 (0)6 80 25 09 89
andre.bissonnet@gmail.com
[UFE number : 105]
