A Hurdy-Gurdy Signed by Béchonnet… Made by Pajot Fils

This poster features a remarkable hurdy-gurdy bearing the signature of Béchonnet, an instrument maker renowned for the exceptional quality of his bellows-blown bagpipes, who was based in Effiat, in the Puy-de-Dôme region of France. The village lies close to Jenzat, the historic centre of hurdy-gurdy making in France.

The instrument stands out for its elegant shape, its finely carved female head, and the rich floral decoration painted across the soundbox. The photographs by Pascal Cranga reveal the refinement of the decorative work and the elegance of this nineteenth-century hurdy-gurdy.

This instrument, however, is at the heart of a particularly fascinating story. Although it bears Béchonnet’s signature, it was in fact made by Pajot Fils. A surviving letter documents the arrangement between the two makers:

“Monsieur Pajot, I have just received a letter from my customer together with a 10-franc deposit. I therefore ask you to begin work on this 100-franc hurdy-gurdy as soon as possible. I recommend that you give it your utmost care and complete it at the earliest opportunity. Please leave a space in the middle of the keyboard so that I may add my name (…) for he insists that it should come from me, since I have already made others for him (…). Please let me know the day when I should come to collect it myself, so that I can also bring a barrel of wine (…).”

During the restoration of the instrument, numerous “Pajot Fils” inscriptions discovered inside the hurdy-gurdy confirmed its true origin. This instrument therefore provides valuable evidence of the collaborations and commercial arrangements that existed between hurdy-gurdy makers during the nineteenth century.

Poster Specifications

Photography and Layout: Pascal Cranga

A retired hurdy-gurdy maker and tonewood dealer, Pascal Cranga devoted much of his life to the study, restoration, and construction of this iconic traditional instrument. Passionate about historical hurdy-gurdies, he assembled over the years an extensive collection of instruments together with a rich photographic archive highlighting their diversity, aesthetic beauty, and historical significance.

Format: 400 × 600 mm

Printing Process: Colorado – High Quality

Print: Matte finish on 200 g/m² photographic paper

This poster faithfully reproduces original photographs by Pascal Cranga, revealing the intricate details, materials, and elegance of a historic hurdy-gurdy.