Early 19th Century Musical Vignette "Lady at Her Music Lessons", Rzebitschek

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14" (36 cm.) x 7" (base). Arranged upon a wooden platform with faux-rosewood finish and painted floral and scroll decorations is a lovely vignette featuring a porcelain-head lady seated at the pianoforte while her music instructor sits nearby, and a little child dances in front. The pianoforte is beautifully decorated in the same manner as the base and each doll wears original elegant costume and is seated on a fancy salon chair. When wound, the lady runs her hands across the keys in a realistic manner while the instructor waves his teaching rod and nods his head in time to the music; the little girl dances and twirls about, and music plays. Marks: original tune label is affixed to the underside listing two tunes in ink script: Cher der Bischofe a Afrikanerin, and Frohliches Weiderschen Walser, and is numbered Zahl 45874 and musik 3766. There is also a pencil script notation with names on the underside. Comments: attributed to the Rzebitschek music box firm of Prague, mid-19th century, whose pieces were notable for their superb music quality. An identical piece (except for decorations and lacking the dancing child) is known to have the Rzebitschek imprint on the comb. Value Points: rare and luxurious parlor music box with intriguing background and very fine musical sound is perfectly preserved.