Walnut is a hard wood with hues which range from light to dark. Various walnut trees are used in the production of objects but the most common are English walnut and black walnut. One of the properties of walnut are the patterns which can form. Unlike other woods which retain the same color throughout, walnut often gives a mottled appearance.
Below are some examples of walnut music boxes including a Bremond eight-cylinder music box on a stand and a Polyphon music box.
A B.A. BREMOND INTERCHANGABLE EIGHT-CYLINDER INLAID WALNUT MUSIC BOX ON STAND
Geneva, circa 1880
With six bells with bee-form hammers and drum, fitted with cylinder drawers, crank numbered 11718, the lid with original tune label listing 48 airs,
height 46in (117cm); width 55in (139.5cm); depth 36in (91.5cm)
Sold for US$ 11,475 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2021
FINE ANTIQUE CYLINDER MUSICAL BOX. 24” W. x 10 ½” H. x 12 ½” D. In a wonderfully crafted cabinet of finely burled walnut and beautiful inlays with musical and floral marquetry designs front and side, is housed a music box featuring centrally located cylinder with drum, bells and castanette percussive instruments. There is an inner glass lid protecting the movement. Swiss, maker unknown.
Sold for US$1,500 at Frasher’s Doll Auction in 2022
This is a 20″ table top cylinder music box in a walnut case with inlay of mixed wood, showing some surface scratches and scuffs to the finish. Six tune cylinder with internal winding crank, working.
Sold for US$325 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2022
Polyphon Style 103 Disc Musical Box, c. 1900
Polyphon Musikwerke, Leipzig. For discs of 15 ½ in., coin-operated, 78 teeth in duplex comb (1 broken), walnut case, top pediment later, height 43 1/3 in., with 25 discs, good playing condition.
Sold for €3,400 at Auction Team Breker in 2022
German Musical Clock with Dog
circa 1900
walnut case surmounted by a gilt metal dog, 30-hour brass movement, music box that can be turned on and off by a metal loop under the dog, unsigned, possibly Junghans
16 1/2 x 9 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches
Sold for US$400 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in 2022
