$22,000
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sold
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Description
24" x 23" (61 x 58 cm.) A beautifully crafted six-sided wooden
and glass cabinet encloses a carousel with cast lead galloping
horses and riders interspersed by painted tin gondolas. The
carousel has a canvas canopy and gilt-thread-edged silk
curtains; the underside of the canopy is decorated lavishly with
lace,pearls and colored glass baubles. Hidden in the base is a
large cartel-style Swiss cylinder musical movement playing six
melodies whose names are listed on the original tune program
label and which include the national anthems of Russia and
France: Choeur des Girondins, Estudiantina Valse, La Czarine
Mazurka, Hymne National Russel, Bleu Danube Valse, and La
Marseillaise. The entire presentation is housed in a fine cabinet
of precious woods decorated with painted scenes,inlay and
ebonized carved columns. Condition: mechanism and music
function very well,rich musical sound,the coin activating lever is
missing but the original winding handle is present and operates
the piece nicely. Marks: Auguste Lasseure (original paper label
on interior). Comments: Lasseure, circa 1890. When railway
travel became popular in the late 19th century,Lasseure,a Swiss
craftsman,hit upon the notion of creating musical vignettes to
entertain passengers awaiting their train ride. He commissioned
the musical movements from Alfred Junod-Turin and other
music box makers in Ste-Croix,the heart of the musical box
industry,fitted them inside the beautifully-appointed cabinets
along with a coin device and contracted with the Jura-Simplon
Railway Co of Switzerland for placement in their waiting rooms.
A Lassueur brass plaque at the Baud Museum in Switzerland
indicates that the firm specialized in "carrousels a musique"
and "creations for public amusement". When activated,the
carousel merrily revolves,and the horses and riders move up and
down,while six tunes play in sequence. Value Points: very rare
mechanical musical depiction of 19th century life in excellent
original state,with delightful tunes designed to appeal to
internationally traveling passengers.