An exceptional key-wind quatre-overture hooked-tooth musical box, by Nicole Freres, circa 1854,
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An exceptional key-wind quatre-overture hooked-tooth musical box, by Nicole Freres,
circa 1854,
Ser. No. 32069,
Gam. No. 1441,
playing Caravanne, Gretry; Flute Enchantée, Mozart; der Freyschutz, Weber; and della Gazza Ladra, Rossini, large single-spring motor and stamped single-section comb of approximately 209 teeth, on plain brass bedplate in red stained interior under hinged dustlid, lid interior with finely inscribed silver tunesheet also bearing the T. Cox. Savory & Co. retailer address, single strung border, the case with grained finish, end-flap with later pull-and-pin fastening, the lid top with rosewood veneered ground, inlaid extravagantly with central boulle crest in red tortoiseshell, twin drum and French horns in brass, flanked by large rococo C scrolls, repeated to the corners in boulle work with further red tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, blue and pink enamels, framed with triple brass stringing, with the original brass and steel ratchet winding key, with a lid key - 21.3/4in. (55cm) wide, the cylinder width 13.3/16in. (33.5cm), the diameter 3.1/8in. (8cm)
Sold for £18,750 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Condition: G II 3

    One of the best sounding and untouched overture boxes to come to light for some time, this type is sometimes referred to as the 'Minor-Format', with it being just one step down from the much sought after Grand-Format examples.

    The first air, overture de la Caravanne, is from the opera-ballet by Belgium composer André Grétry (1741–1813) and first performed at Fontainbleau on 30th October 1783. Not known to many, Grétry composed over sixty operas with the Caravanne being the most popular and lively in melody.

    With the same family for decades, it has been played little.

Category: Collectibles / Mechanical Music


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