Glossary Archives - Antique Music Box Information

Comb Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 11:38:47 +0000

Comb Music Boxes. Combs come in a variety of sizes and ranges of notes. A simple one octave diatonic comb can produce a wide range of tunes and chords. Reference: eHow

Below are some examples and price guides of antique music boxes which use combs in their movements including a Regina double comb music box and a Polyphon Style music box.

Regina 1896 double comb music box, with disk and crank mechanism in an oak case; plaque inside the lid reads, ?C.J. Heppe & Sons Philadelphia / Regina no. 64278?; with lithograph depicting a goddess and cherubs mounted to the interior of the lid; accompanied by thirty 15-1/2 inch disks
h. 13 w. 22-1/2 d. 20-1/4 in.

Sold for US$800 at Butterscotch Auction in 2023

Polyphon Style 45 15-3/4″ Disc Music Box Walnut case, double comb, 11 Discs Included

Sold for US$3,750 at Stanton’s Auctioneers & Realtors in 2023

Late 19th century double comb Regina table top music box, mahogany case with inlay, has 15-15 1/2″ tin disk records, 13″ t. x 19″ x 21″

Sold for US$650 at Davies Auctions in 2023

Schutz-Marke Symphonion music box, serial #230471, German, late 19th century. Crank operation with a double-comb mechanism and brass rolling arm. All housed in a walnut box case raised on bun feet, lithograph depicting a group of musical putti inset under glass beneath the lid. Accompanied by one 13 5/8 inch music disk, ‘We Two Waltz’ by H. Stanley Crane. Paper label reading ‘Music Discs No. 30 only are suitable for this Symphonion.’ Each comb mechanism with Schutz-Marke impression along with the serial number. 10 x 20.25 x 16.5 inches.

Sold for US$300 at Concept Art Gallery in 2023

Disc, double-comb music box Symphonion, in a wooden case with a patterned design on the lid . Includes 33 discs. An inspection has been carried out, the mechanisms are in good condition. 26×26 cm. Width: 26cm, Height: 17cm, Depth: 26cm, Weight: 5kg, Condition: Signs of wear commensurate with age, Material: Bronze

Sold for €160 at ANTIQON in 2023

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Gold Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 21:19:07 +0000

Gold music boxes are some of the finest and even non-working ones can fetch high sums of money. They are often found in miniature forms and can be as small as a charm or fob. They are excellent collectible items.

Below are some examples and price guides of gold music boxes including a gold, amethyst and turquoise box and a miniature charm.

Miniature Gold, Amethyst, and Turquoise Musical Box Vinaigrette
19th century, engine turned case with pierced hinged lid and enameled cartouche of a madden, turquoise, diamond-set spandrels at each corner, interior hinged lid with enameled scene of a European lake side, hinged pierced interior cover opening to a reservoir, music box winding stem located on underside, wd. 1 1/4, dp. 1, ht. 3/4 in.

Sold for US$8,925 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

ATTRIBUTED TO PIGUET ET MEYLAN. AN EXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD AND ENAMEL MUSICAL BOX AND SNUFF BOX WITH AUTOMATON AND CENTER-SECONDS WATCH, MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
SWISS, GENEVA, NO. 1447, THE BOX ATTRIBUTED TO RÉMOND, LAMY, MERCIER & CO, CIRCA 1815

Sold for HKD 1,250,000 at Christie’s in 2021

14K yellow gold music box charm in the shape of a piano, featuring applied gold rope decoration, turquoise and carnelian “jewels”, 1 x 1 in., 27.9 grams

Sold for US$600 at Alex Cooper in 2023

Tang Dynasty,Gold Character Playing Music Box
Dimensions
8 x 12 cm
Weight
178 g

Sold for US$15,000 at Golden Hammer Auctions Limited in 2022

French Gold Fob with Gold Music Box
Rare Circa 1800 gold music box pendant with four sided, enamel center. Not in working order.
Size of fob: 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches

Sold for US$1,300 at Link Auction Galleries in 2021

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Walnut

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 10:42:54 +0000

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

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French Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 10:25:44 +0000

French music boxes are usually of high quality and come in many shapes and sizes. Although the cases may be of French origin, the movements may be Swiss.

Below are some examples and price guides to antique French music boxes including a French musical sewing box and a French automata music box.

A late 19th century French rosewood and marquetry inlaid and stained wood cylinder music box
by Paillard Vaucher et Fils
the rectangular case with musical trophy decoration to the lid, the brass cylinder numbered 1824 playing eight airs, the movement with single-spring motor and single-section comb with zither attachment within an ebonised interior under glass dust lid,
15cm high, 57cm wide, 22cm deep

Sold for £191.25 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

A FRENCH GOLD MUSICAL BOX
PARIS, STRUCK WITH THE PARISIAN STANDARD AND GUARANTEE MARKS FOR GOLD 1809-1819
rectangular box with rounded corners, the cover, sides and base set with panels of engine-turning within scrolling foliate sablé borders, the inside of the base fitted with a musical movement released by two levers on the front panel, with associated key
3½ in. (87 mm.) wide

Sold for GBP 5,000 at Christie’s in 2018

Musical box with automata; late 19th century.
Brass, bronze and carved wood.
French-Swiss machinery mounted on Spanish Alfonsino style furniture,
The machinery is in perfect condition, two combs are missing and there are faults on the rollers .
Electrified in later period.
In working order.
Measurements: 85 x 74 x 44 cm.

Sold for €3,950 at Setdart Auction House in 2022

1920, FRENCH: This phenomenal example of early gambling is patterned after the French table top versions that were portable and could be moved from location to location. This much larger version of those table top versions is built into a large oak cabinet. The horserace on top is of considerable manufacture and weight. Cast iron horses with original paint, cast brass gallery and chains to outline the race track. There is a crank handle on the side to wind the spring, and when released the horses race around the track to the added entertainment of an accompanying music box. There is a cup in the middle of the track with a posted sign for “bets”, so the intent of the game is well known.

Sold for US$9,000 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2022

An ebony, tinted horn, ivory, brass and tortoiseshell marquetry sewing and music box, Napoleon III

the interior lined with orange velvet, with compartments and with bottles; a winding under the box; sold with a pin holder “Pins for brides/A. Renard-Benoit/new arrivals/Boulevard du Théatre/Caen”

Height 4¾in; width 11¾in; teacher 8⅔in

Sold for 4,410 EUR at Sotheby’s in 2021

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Brass

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 08:37:02 +0000

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It is a versatile metal making it useful in both musical movements and as a container in novelty music boxes. Although it has a gold appearance it can also be gilded to give it that extra sheen. Enameling is also a decorative technique which can be used in the manufacture of music boxes and other items.

Below are some examples and price guides of brass music boxes including a Swiss gilt brass mechanical bird cage and a singing bird box automaton.

A SWISS GILT BRASS MECHANICAL BIRD CAGE MUSIC BOX
The domed cage enclosing two singing birds, mounted on a wall bracket with lyre shaped support, 16cm wide, 16cm deep, 30cm high (6in wide, 6in deep, 11 1/2in high) 33cm high

Sold for £ 1,530 (US$ 1,810) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

Gold and Brass Musical Travel Alarm Clock, Bueche Girod, Van Cleef & Arpels
18 kt., mechanical, dia. ap. 29 mm., dial signed Bueche Girod, case signed Van Cleef & Arpels, New York, Palm Beach, movement unsigned. With signed box.

Sold for $1,500 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2020

SWISS REUGE SINGING BIRD MUSIC BOX AUTOMATON
Enamel & brass music box with decorative decals, with oval door swinging open to reveal a singing bird, hallmarked underneath.

Sold for US$3,000 at Gordon Fine Art Gallery LLC in 2022

Capodimonte ceramic Reuge music box with gilded brass jewelry box. Plays melody Edelweiss. Second half of the 20th century. Dimensions: 13 x 17 x 14 cm. In good condition.

Sold for €300 at Twents Veilinghuis in 2022

MUSIC BOX TIPLER CANE

This cane is hand carved wood, the shaft is brass with the original patina and the ferrule is brass over steel. The music is wound up on the side of the head. It is believed to be made in the Black Forest of Germany. There is a tube inside the shaft that holds liquor and there is room for five more tubes. The music plays when the liquor is being poured. The music box plays well. C. 1900. Condition: Dimensions: 35 – 1/2″ Long.

Sold for US$450 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2022

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Automaton Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 07:43:51 +0000

Automaton Music Boxes. Automatons have been around since the Hellenistic era but they are more commonly recognized nowadays as toys which move to a defined pattern. However, automatons, or moving figures, were often incorporated into music boxes.

Below are some examples of automaton music boxes including a ship table clock and an enamel and pearl music box with a temple automaton.

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Ormolu Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 13:59:15 +0000

Ormolu Music Boxes. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of mercuric nitrate is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze; followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item is then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury vaporizes and the gold remains, adhering to the metal object. Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples of ormolu music boxes including a harp-shaped music box and an ormolu musical automaton clock.

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Rosewood Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 08:08:20 +0000

Rosewood Music Boxes. Rosewood was often used in antique furniture, jewelry boxes, musical instruments and music boxes. Genuine rosewood is now a protected species due to over exploitation although antique rosewood items are still allowed to be sold.

Below are some examples of rosewood music boxes.

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Swiss Music Boxes

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 07:40:01 +0000

Swiss Music Boxes. For most of the 19th century, the bulk of music box production was concentrated in Switzerland, building upon a strong watchmaking tradition. The first music box factory was opened there in 1815 by Jérémie Recordon and Samuel Junod. Reference: Wikipedia.

Music boxes made in Switzerland are of excellent quality and renown throughout the world.

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Ebony

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 10:11:36 +0000

Ebony has a long history of use, with carved pieces having been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs.

By the end of the 16th century, fine cabinets for the luxury trade were made of ebony in Antwerp. The wood’s dense hardness lent itself to refined moldings framing finely detailed pictorial panels with carving in very low relief (bas-relief), usually of allegorical subjects, or with scenes taken from classical or Christian history. Within a short time, such cabinets were also being made in Paris, where their makers became known as ébénistes, which remains the French term for a cabinetmaker.

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Organ

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 08:29:27 +0000

The organ is a keyboard instrument of one or more pipe divisions or other means for producing tones, each played with its own keyboard, played either with the hands on a keyboard or with the feet using pedals. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria (285–222 BC), who invented the water organ. It was played throughout the Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman world, particularly during races and games. During the early medieval period it spread from the Byzantine Empire, where it continued to be used in secular (non-religious) and imperial court music, to Western Europe, where it gradually assumed a prominent place in the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Subsequently it re-emerged as a secular and recital instrument in the Classical music tradition.

Music boxes tend to have a mechanical organ, an organ that is self-playing, rather than played by a musician. For example, the barrel organ is activated either by a person turning a crank, or by clockwork driven by weights or springs.

Usually, mechanical organs are pipe organs although some instruments were built using reeds similar to those found in a harmonium. Since the 1950s, some instruments have been built using electronics to generate the sound, though still operated by mechanical or pneumatic means.

Originally, the music for mechanical organs was stored by pins on a large barrel. Such instruments were called barrel organs. Such organs only have a very limited repertoire, both in the number of musical selections that could be stored, and the length of tune that could be accommodated. Reference: Wikipedia

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Spinet

antiquemusicboxinfoadmin — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 17:16:49 +0000

A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ. Miniature spinets could be used in music boxes and musical clocks.

Below are some examples of music boxes and clocks with spinets and a full size spinet.

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