'Le Coeur du Pierrot’ takes it’s inspiration from the 1945 French movie “Les Enfants du Paradis” - with one of the main characters a “Pierrot” mime. Set in the theatrical world of 1830s Paris, it tells the story of a courtesan and four men — a mime, an actor, a criminal and an aristocrat — who love her in entirely different ways. When Michael found a little 18th/19th century “Pierrot” doll at the Vienna flea market he remembered the movie, and that set the vibe for the guitar.

These dolls are bisque toys common to that era. There was a stock of these from two old ladies at the Vienna flea market, who ran a doll shop and restored and repaired old dolls. The old heart illustration references the all-round heart break in the story. The overall aesthetic is inspired by the surrealist art movement - and a bit by the boxes of Joseph Cornell. I’ve always liked his work.