The history of the music box dates back to 1796, when the Swiss watchmaker Antoine Favre perfected the concept of musical devices of reduced dimensions. The cylinder musical box evolved in the early 19th century from clocks with bell chimes. Instead of bells the music was created by tiny teeth as in the teeth in a comb being 'flicked' by the pins in a rotating cylinder. The early boxes had plain cases, and the spring mechanism which drove the cylinder was wound by a key. This was replaced by a ratchet lever. From 1860 the cases became more ornate with inlays and banding. The movements were enhanced with complications such as bellow, drums and bells, the latter of which were often hidden under decorative butterflies or bees. Another advance was to include additional cylinders, and while the box could only play a single cylinder at one time, the cylinders were more...

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Small Swiss Symphonion in working order, width 27 cm x depth 20…

Swiss Symphonion with 10 Discs

Small Swiss Symphonion in working order, width 27 cm x depth 20 cm, height 18 cm together with 10 discs

Two cased brass music box mechanisms, one in a walnut and…

Brass Music Box Mechanisms in Inlay and Marquetry Boxes

Two cased brass music box mechanisms, one in a walnut and mother of pearl shield inlay box, the other marquetry decorated, the largest 5.5 cm high, 12.5 cm wide 8.5 cm deep

A 19th century Swiss music box, inlaid rosewood case,…

Swiss Music Box in Rosewood Case

A 19th century Swiss music box, inlaid rosewood case, apparently working, all teeth intact, crank action wind, the movement under the glass hinged cover. 33.5 x 17 x 12.5 cm.

A Victorian walnut and ebonised cased rectangular music box.…

Victorian Music Box with Sublime Harmony Tune

A Victorian walnut and ebonised cased rectangular music box. The tune sublime harmony by Ami Rivera. Height 12 cm, width 55 cm, depth 21 cm.

A rosewood and floral marquetry cased Victorian music box.…

Victorian Floral Music Box

A rosewood and floral marquetry cased Victorian music box. Height 12 cm, width 55 cm, depth 21 cm.

A 19th century Swiss music box made by L.F. Geneve, playing 8…

Antique Swiss Music Box with 8 Aire Melodies

A 19th century Swiss music box made by L.F. Geneve, playing 8 aires with ratchet lever wind. Lever operation for start, stop, change and repeat aire. Original aire sheet to the inside lid, the pin cylinder movement housed in a rosewood veneered case with…

Italian ornately decorated storage table inlaid type veneer…

Italian Inlaid Music Storage Table with Fitted Interior

Italian ornately decorated storage table inlaid type veneer decorated lid, opening to fitted interior, for card game/sewing pieces, with operating music box, on 4 tapered legs, key unavailable, height 50 cm, width 44 cm

Italian decorative storage table inlaid type veneer decorated…

Italian Inlaid Decorative Storage Table with Music Box

Italian decorative storage table inlaid type veneer decorated lid, which opens to a fitted interior storage for cards/sewing pieces etc, and with operating music box movement, on 4 tapered legs, height 42 cm ; width 37 cm, approx. Key unavailable.

A Swiss Interchangeable musical cylinder box c. 1890 the lower…

Swiss Interchangeable Cylinder Music Box (9 words)

A Swiss Interchangeable musical cylinder box c. 1890 the lower box accommodates all four interchangeable cylinders. Movement no. 61625/18 comprises a double comb of 16 and 26 blades and double mainspring. The four cylinders each play six tunes, height 40…

Swiss Orchestra music box c.1880 full orchestra box with double…

Swiss Orchestra Music Box with Double Combs

Swiss Orchestra music box c.1880 full orchestra box with double combs 29 and 22 blades. Flutine 16 notes. 36 reeds, six castanet hammers, six bells and drum no. 5915.

An antique inlaid lift top music box, height 16 cm, width 52 cm,…

Inlaid Lift Top Music Box - Antique Beauty

An antique inlaid lift top music box, height 16 cm, width 52 cm, depth 23 cm

A 19th century Swiss disc music box, Britannia model, grained…

Swiss Britannia Disc Music Box with 13 Discs

A 19th century Swiss disc music box, Britannia model, grained paint finish and Britannia decal to the exterior, apparently working, all teeth intact, lever action wind, with thirteen discs. 39 x 26 x 20 cm.

Swiss 19th century music box an intriguing Victorian wonder,…

Victorian Swiss Music Box with Butterfly Bells

Swiss 19th century music box an intriguing Victorian wonder, unusual and quite rare, complete with butterfly bells, drums, castanets and organette. By Langdorff & Fils. In burr walnut. Dimensions: 42 cm 68 cm x 34 cm.

Good Reuge Switzerland wooden music box operational brass…

Reuge Wooden Music Box Plays Tchaikovsky Melodies

Good Reuge Switzerland wooden music box operational brass movement plays three Tchaikovsky melodies, length 20 cm.

A Thorens Switzerland music box in timber case cm, width 21 cm

Thorens Music Box in Timber Case

A Thorens Switzerland music box in timber case cm, width 21 cm

19th century Continental cylinder music box, with ten songs,…

19th Century Continental Cylinder Music Box

19th century Continental cylinder music box, with ten songs, set within a rectangular box with double stringing to the edges and raised on four bracket feet, with original paper song list label, length 69 cm

A vintage music box with inlaid lid, width 51 cm

Inlaid Music Box - Vintage Charm

A vintage music box with inlaid lid, width 51 cm

Early wood veneer music box, some losses to veneer, with music…

Antique Wood Music Box with Losses and Key

Early wood veneer music box, some losses to veneer, with music box movement below, needs service, key available, height 9 cm, width 11 cm

Two wooden music boxes including three Airs Swiss cylinder,…

Antique Swiss Cylinder Music Boxes

Two wooden music boxes including three Airs Swiss cylinder, early 20th century, comprising a Swiss cylinder comb mechanism rectangular mini music box no 50, mahogany cased with three tunes including Lauterbach Waltz, operated with push button to the front…

A rare German gilt-metal and enamelled singing-bird box…

Rare German Enamelled Singing-Bird Box by Karl Griesbaum

A rare German gilt-metal and enamelled singing-bird box attributed to Karl Griesbaum, the bird with multi-coloured plumage; the beak, wings, tail and body articulated, concealed in a decoratively enamelled case. The hinged lid painted with a menage a…

An early Ducommun music box with key wind movement, 27 cm…

Ducommun Music Box with Marquetry Dance Scene

An early Ducommun music box with key wind movement, 27 cm cylinder playing 6 airs in mahogany case with marquetry dance scene on the top, 19th century, with original key and running, 13 cm high, 48 cm wide, 17 cm deep

An impressive antique organ box by Samuel Troll with 33 cm…

Antique Samuel Troll Organ Box with Marquetry Case

An impressive antique organ box by Samuel Troll with 33 cm cylinder with 8 airs in a fine walnut and floral marquetry case, 19th century, 35 cm high, 64 cm wide, 35 cm deep

Vintage Continental amboyna veneer music box decorated inset…

Antique Amboyna Veneer Music Box with Fitted Interior

Vintage Continental amboyna veneer music box decorated inset amboyna wood to lid, opening to fitted interior, with operating music box movement, length 19 cm

A 19th century Swiss 10 tune music box attributed to Junod, the…

Junod Swiss 10 Tune Music Box with Rosewood Case

A 19th century Swiss 10 tune music box attributed to Junod, the rosewood box with decorated lid, the interior with glazed lid enclosing the comb with all teeth present, replacement Isle of Rousseau tune sheet. In working order, the case with original key.…

Objects, 1920's and later a collection of ladies vanity…

1920s Ladies Vanity Collection

Objects, 1920's and later a collection of ladies vanity accesories and objects, comprising six pieces, the music box 6 cm high, 15.5 cm wide, 11 cm deep

Vintage Swiza Swiss brass cased desk clock 17 jewels movement,…

Swiza Swiss Brass Desk Clock with Music Box

Vintage Swiza Swiss brass cased desk clock 17 jewels movement, needs service, with incorporated music box movement, appears to be operational, height 10 cm.

A late 19th century tramp art carved musical jewel box, angled…

Tramp Art Musical Jewel Box

A late 19th century tramp art carved musical jewel box, angled fine notch carved bands frame the green velvet panels with gilded metal mounts including 'L.K. 1899'. The hinged lid with mirrored interior. Old decorative paper lined interior with label hand…

An antique inlaid music box, height 28 cm, width 52 cm, depth…

Inlaid Music Box - Antique Treasure

An antique inlaid music box, height 28 cm, width 52 cm, depth 30 cm

A Swiss music box by 'Mfs' single comb with brass cylinder set…

Swiss Music Box in Ebonized Case with Song List

A Swiss music box by 'Mfs' single comb with brass cylinder set in ebonized and painted wood case with chromolithographed card stock, a list with eight inked manuscript song titles in French, fixed crank on left interior and play & change/repeat levers on…

Small Swiss music box by Reuge in a crystal case with gold…

Crystal Case Music Box with Gold Dolphin Feet

Small Swiss music box by Reuge in a crystal case with gold metal 'Dolphin' feet.

Antique Tunbridge musical jewellery box with fitted interior,…

Tunbridge Musical Jewellery Box with Fitted Interior

Antique Tunbridge musical jewellery box with fitted interior, width 28 x depth 12 cm working when tested.

A Swiss timber Reuge Sainte Croix music box Showcasing three…

Swiss Reuge Music Box: Tchaikovsky Songs, Elaine & Lyle, 1978

A Swiss timber Reuge Sainte Croix music box Showcasing three Tchaikovsky Songs, width 23 cm, plaque to top reads 'Elaine and Lyle, January 1978'

Rare French boulle musical box, 19th century 'Boite a Bijoux'…

French Boulle Musical Box with Inlaid Tortoise Shell and Brass

Rare French boulle musical box, 19th century 'Boite a Bijoux' with tortoise shell and brass inlays of small serpentine shape by makers, Alphonse Giroux - Paris (letter of provenance inside)

A fine inlaid Swiss cylinder 8 airs music box with gilded bells,…

Swiss Cylinder Music Box with Gilded Bells and Inlay

A fine inlaid Swiss cylinder 8 airs music box with gilded bells, unmarked, model n. 127, serial 51026, late 19th century, the single 6.5 inches cylinder table music box in an ebonised case with inlaid floral top, mechanically operated with a side crank, 4…

An antique music box in walnut case, 19th century, a 16 cm…

19th Century Walnut Music Box with Bells

An antique music box in walnut case, 19th century, a 16 cm cylinder with three bells, 22 cm high, 42 cm wide, 27 cm deep

A mahogany cased music box, by F.C Lecoultre, Swiss, circa 1845,…

Antique Swiss Music Box with Mahogany Case and Eight Tunes

A mahogany cased music box, by F.C Lecoultre, Swiss, circa 1845, an eight tune music box crank operated with a 33 cm brass cylinder and comb stamped with maker's trademark, housed in a mahogany case inlaid with satinwood stringing, the case 13 cm high, 52…

Rare French boulle music box, tortoise shell and brass inlaid…

Rare 19ct French Boulle Music Box by Alph Giroux

Rare French boulle music box, tortoise shell and brass inlaid serpentine shaped 19ct Boite a Bijoux by makers Alph Giroux, Paris

An antique Swiss music box with transfer decorated case, plays…

19th Century Swiss Music Box with Transfer Decorated Case

An antique Swiss music box with transfer decorated case, plays eight aires with original lithograph song sheet, 19th century, movement runs well, 12 cm high, 37 cm wide, 19 cm deep

9ct gold music box pendant, modelled as a log cabin house…

Birmingham Hallmarked 9ct Gold Log Cabin Music Box Pendant

9ct gold music box pendant, modelled as a log cabin house opening to reveal a functioning wind-up music box, Birmingham hallmarks, maker's mark Cjm Co., measuring approximately 24 x 20 x 13 mm.

Orpheus Sankyo music box, fine quality polished finish cylinder…

Orpheus Sankyo Music Box: Fine Quality Polished Cylinder Box

Orpheus Sankyo music box, fine quality polished finish cylinder box from Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing Company

Late 19th century German Symphonion Brevete patent double comb…

19th Century German Symphonion Brevete Double Comb Disc Musical Box

Late 19th century German Symphonion Brevete patent double comb disc musical box, black ebonized box with transfer crest to the lid complete with nine discs

An antique musical bird cage with taxidermy canary on gilded…

An antique musical bird cage with taxidermy canary on gilded timber base, height 49 cm no key to wind musical mechanism

Rare antique musical bird singing sewing box with inlaid brass…

Antique Musical Bird Singing Sewing Box with Inlaid Brass

Rare antique musical bird singing sewing box with inlaid brass and mother of pearl top, with internal fitted compartments and accessories, keys available not working when tested

19th century cylinder music box with inlaid walnut case key…

19th century cylinder music box with inlaid walnut case key included, 37 cm x 23 cm, 14 cm high needs to be serviced 24

19th century cylinder music box with marquetry and string…

19th century cylinder music box with marquetry and string inlaid case, three broken teeth, lists 8 airs, 56 cm x 30 cm, 27 cm high 25

Mechanical Orguinette Co. Of New York hand-cranked organ player…

1910 Mechanical Orguinette Co. hand-cranked organ player with paper rolls

Mechanical Orguinette Co. Of New York hand-cranked organ player with ten paper rolls, circa 1910, 36 cm high, 40 cm wide, 35 cm deep

19th century music box with inlaid case, key and winder…

19th century music box with inlaid case, key and winder included, 36 cm x 18 cm, 13 cm high, not in operating order 23