Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Geneva, Mar 16, 2014
NICOLE FRERES - TABLE MUSICAL BOX PLAYING 36 TUNES Nicole Frères, Geneve, No. 44480. Made circa 1870. Extremely fine and very rare, rosewood inlaid and ebonized musical box with table, playing thirty-six tunes on six interchangeable cylinders, each playing six tunes.
Rectangular, rosewood veneered and ebonised with inlaid crossbanded stringing, the front inlaid with a foliate scroll cartouche and the initials "NF", hinged lid inlaid with a view of Lake Geneva within a foliate cartouche and initials "NF", brass handles, lock and brass key, table en suite with fitted drawer for the other cylinders, turned ebonised legs with castors. Hinged glazed cover to view, brass bed, 10cm.going barrel with crank lever winding, six 41cm.interchangeable pinned brass cylinders playing six tunes each on a steel comb in two sections with 158 tuned vibrating teeth, two levers for releasing the cylinder, brass fly, levers for stop/start and tune selection.