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Ebony
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…
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Organ
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…
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Spinet
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…
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Musical Clocks
Musical Clocks. A musical clock is a clock that marks the hours of the day with a musical tune played from a spiked cylinder either on bells, organ pipes, bellows,…
Mermod Freres
Mermod Freres were prominent watch makers of the late 19th century and often made watches with musical movements. In addition they were renown for automata and music boxes. Below are…
Paillard
Charles Paillard was renown for music boxes and made great advancements in cylinder music box quality. He is credited with introducing the Sublime Harmonie. For years, music box makers searched…
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Continental Music Boxes
Continental Music Boxes. Antique music boxes made on the continent of Europe come in many different shapes and sizes. Many are exquisite and of high quality including musical automatons and…
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Zither Attachment
A zither attachment, when referred to in music boxes, is a removable arm with a strip of paper, introduced around 1870 and now often decayed, that covers the comb and…
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Escutcheon
An escutcheon is a general term for a decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item. Escutcheon is an Old Norman word derived from the Latin word scutum, meaning…
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Ebonising
Ebonising: Ebonising is a process for darkening wood, giving it an appearance similar to ebony, hence the name. It is particularly used for pianos and fine furniture including music boxes.…
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Maple
Maple Music Boxes. Some of the larger maple species have valuable timber, particularly Sugar maple in North America, and Sycamore maple in Europe. Sugar maple wood—often known as "hard maple"—is…
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Burr
Burr. Burrs (burls in US) yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood, prized for its beauty and rarity. It is sought after by furniture makers, artists, and wood sculptors.…
