Frederic Chopin is considered by many to be the greatest and most significant composer for the piano. At the age of twenty he left Poland for France and lived in Paris where he taught, composed and performed.

Being such an important figure in relation to the piano, the instruments he played are exceptionally rare and held in high regard. With only a few pianos confirmed as being owned by the legendary maestro and even fewer of these actually functional, the recent discovery in an English country house of a Chopin owned, working Pleyel piano is quite an event.

This most recent Chopin instrument was sought out by the scholar, Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger who tracked it to the English antique collector Alec Cobbe. He had apparently bought the Pleyel for $3880 having no idea of its history.

To read some more on this go to these blogs; CrazyAussieBastard and PolishToledo.