By Nicole Frères (Swiss, active late 19th Century)
With its elegant design and high-quality finish, this antique was crafted by one of the foremost makers of music boxes in the late 19th century.
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This highly elegant antique is crafted by one of the foremost makers of music boxes in the late 19th century.
The musical mechanism is housed within a rectangular wooden box. Its surface is adorned with straight banding, which frames each panel. The sides are fitted with cast gilt metal handles, while the front features a gilt metal keyhole. The piece rests on a stepped wooden plinth crafted from ebonised wood. The lid of the music box is decorated in a similar style.
When opened, the musical mechanism is revealed. This particular example, like the majority of music boxes from that era, utilises a rotating pinned cylinder that interacted with a comb. After the first melody finished playing, the cylinder would subtly shift, aligning the comb's teeth with a different set of pins on the same cylinder, enabling the box to perform multiple tunes.
Inside the music box, several marks are stamped, including the maker’s mark: ‘NICOLE FRÈRES / GENEVE’.
A very similar example, crafted by this renowned French firm is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, making this antique a very desirable addition to one’s collection.
Reference:
014449
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