A fine exhibition-standard piano-forte Grand Interchangeable cylinder musical box, by Nicole Frères,
The former property of Charles L. E. Brun, who bought Nicole Frères,
-
made for the International Inventors Exposition, held in London, 1885,
-
Ser. No. 47540,
the full Gamme program across 45 cylinders No.s 1-45, with double longe-marche motor, speed regulator, stamped piano-forte combs with fourteen blued comb screws and nickel-plated intermediate plate, start/stop as raised central post and change/repeat to the right, on massive reeded cast gilt bedplate, polished blonde pine loafers before matched pollard oak interior and black and gilt Nicole Frères transfer under dustlid, in large squat carved oak stained case, the lid with plain fielded panel framed with ball frieze, icicle and paired leaf carved edge, the front back and sides with central Adams style urn flanked by running ribbon swags with knot ties, paired tapering squared column corners and repeated lid edge carving to the raised plinth, the cylinders contained in the two original manufacturer's pine shipping cases and the majority of the cylinders wrapped in German newspaper dated 1903, with two accompanying paperback cylinder air catalogues marked Special Presentation Copy, each in 'foolscap blue' covers, approximately 50 pages from the index to the listings referencing the cylinder number, one copy with slight tears, the other with period dustcover - 42in. (107cm) wide, the cylinders 19.1/2in. (49.5cm), the cylinder shipping cases 29 x 14 x 14in. (74 x 36 x 36cm) each, the air catalogues 5 x 4in. (13 x 10cm)
-
made for the International Inventors Exposition, held in London, 1885,
-
Ser. No. 47540,
the full Gamme program across 45 cylinders No.s 1-45, with double longe-marche motor, speed regulator, stamped piano-forte combs with fourteen blued comb screws and nickel-plated intermediate plate, start/stop as raised central post and change/repeat to the right, on massive reeded cast gilt bedplate, polished blonde pine loafers before matched pollard oak interior and black and gilt Nicole Frères transfer under dustlid, in large squat carved oak stained case, the lid with plain fielded panel framed with ball frieze, icicle and paired leaf carved edge, the front back and sides with central Adams style urn flanked by running ribbon swags with knot ties, paired tapering squared column corners and repeated lid edge carving to the raised plinth, the cylinders contained in the two original manufacturer's pine shipping cases and the majority of the cylinders wrapped in German newspaper dated 1903, with two accompanying paperback cylinder air catalogues marked Special Presentation Copy, each in 'foolscap blue' covers, approximately 50 pages from the index to the listings referencing the cylinder number, one copy with slight tears, the other with period dustcover - 42in. (107cm) wide, the cylinders 19.1/2in. (49.5cm), the cylinder shipping cases 29 x 14 x 14in. (74 x 36 x 36cm) each, the air catalogues 5 x 4in. (13 x 10cm)
Sold for
£20,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Condition: G II 2(ir)
Reference:
The Music Box, Vol.VII, No. 8, 1978, 'Charles Brun - The Man Who Bought Nicole Frères', K. Harding;
The Nicole Factor, Bellamy, Cunliffe and Ison, 2006, Chap. 6, pp.67-88.
Offered to the international market by a direct descendant of C. Brun, this interchangeable musical box outfit is advanced in its features as it is in historical terms. One could say that this is still an asset of Nicole Frères as a company, as this was the personal property of the man who, at around the time this box was made, bought the company himself.
This outfit comprises one of the most comprehensive variety of music ever offered on cylinder format, complete with both the cylinder storage boxes and two copies of the Nicole Frères catalogues pertaining to this model listing every air-per-cylinder and indexed according to genre.
The nickel-plated strip which is clamped between comb and comb screws was removed to view the comb surface - revealing just one tooth replacement.
The piano-forte tone is superb as is the notation of the works heard. Some minor cosmetic work is needed to the case.
An outstanding example of how good Nicole Frères really were.
Category: Collectibles / Mechanical Music
Auction terms and conditions
Lot symbols
| W | Shipping & handling restrictions apply |
Contacts
Customer Services (UK)
Bonhams
Work
WorkTel:
+44 20 7447 7447
FaxFax: +44 20 7447 7401
Customer Services
Jon Baddeley
Bonhams
Work
Montpelier Street
London,
SW7 1HH
United Kingdom
WorkTel:
0207 393 3872
FaxFax: +44 20 7393 3873
Specialist
-
Scientific Instruments