$3,750
Sold
sold
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Description
A rectangular box with rich lacquered finish on sides and front, has an elaborate marquetry design on the lid portraying a pair of sphinx centering an urn of flowers. The interior lid, of lacquered Chinese red has original paper tune program listing ten tunes. The musical box is protected by an interior glass lid, and the lever-wound box plays ten airs, two per revolution on the 9" brass cylinder. The tunes feature works by Wagner, Verdi, Bellini, Donizetti, and others. The brass bedplate is incised Nicole Freres a Genève, with serial number 41050, and the program label is signed Nicole Freres with matching serial number. The box has fine original finish except some vertical varnish lines under the surface. Circa 1865.