Jason Clarke Antiques has dated this piece to the 1890s.
This superbly decorative show frame is likely to have been situated in Bord’s showrooms and depicts all of the medals won by the company at the numerous global trade exhibitions that were prevalent during the nineteenth century.
Trading from 14 Boulevard Poissoniere in Paris, Antoine Bord started his piano making business in 1840 following his departure from Pleyel & Cie, another famous French piano making firm. The company manufactured pianos in large quantities surpassing most of their rival by the end of the century. It continued under family ownership after the death of Antoine Bord in 1888 until 1905 whereafter, the management of the firm came under the direction of Stiles Caillaux & Cie. In 1925 it was taken over by Regy and then ironically it was subsumed under the Pleyel brand after 1927. The company in which Antoine Bord first started his career in the industry.
This piece presumably dates very closely to 1895 given that the Diplome D’Honneur – Bordeaux was the last award mentioned on the sign and is therefore a piece of advertising relating to the company when it was still maintained under family ownership.
The ebonised frame bears its original framer’s label for Bray Fortune, 140 Rue Menilmontant, Paris. Sadly I can find no information relating to this company.
A lovely piece of piano making history and a highly decorative piece of advertising.
Jason Clarke Antiques has dated this piece to the 1890s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Jason Clarke Antiques Profile Page
French Victorian Advertising Sign for Antoine Bord & Cie Piano Manufacturers, Paris