$6,500
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sold
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Description
13" (33 cm.) x 7" base. A rosewood platform is decorated with superbly stenciled designs to
suggest an inlaid floor and with floral decorations on front and sides. Posed upon the
platform is an elegant pianoforte with matching decorations,keyboard,and music stand,at
which is seated a paper mache woman in a balloon back chair,her hands on the keyboard. At
her side,on a matching chair,is a paper mache headed gentleman in silk costume,holding a
baton and sheet music. When wound,and string pulled,the woman plays the piano,the man
conducts,and a very fine quality of music box is heard,as though the piano is playing.
Condition: generally excellent,mechanism and music function well,faces have typical
craquelure. Marks: No. 1673 15154 (maker's mark on music cylinder). Comments: F.
Rzebitschek musikwerk Fabrik of Prague,circa 1815; the family concern was small but
illustrious,creating vignette mechanical scenes with fine quality music boxes in the first two
decades of the 19th century. Value Points: few examples of the very rare automaton are
known to still exist; the music,the motions and the superb quality of furniture and
decorations attest to their luxury production.