A fine Swiss Nicole Frères marquetry rosewood cylinder music box with eight airs, circa 1855

Description

The mechanism

The brass mechanism is stamped NICOLE FRERES A GENEVE 33277. The spring barrel driving the mechanism is wound by a winding key at the side typical for the earlier generation music boxes. It plays one of eight melodies with a 33.5-cm pinned brass cylinder on a steel comb also stamped NICOLE FRERES. At the left side of the mechanism are three operating levers. The one at the front is for stopping the mechanism instantly. The middle lever is for starting an air and making it to stop at the end of the melody. The hind lever is for either repeating or changing the melodies when playing.

The rosewood case

The rectangular case has a rosewood veneered lid with a central marquetry ornament. At the right side is a flap giving access to the operating levers and winding arbor. Athte inside of the lid is the tune sheet also marked NICOLE FRERES A GENEVE 33277

The programm

1. The Jetty Triffy Quadrille Pantalon Jullien
2. The Jetty Triffy Quadrille Eté Jullien
3. The Jetty Triffy Quadrille Poule Jullien
4. The Jetty Triffy Quadrille Trénise Jullien
5. The Jetty Triffy Quadrille Finale Jullien
6. The blind mice polka Coote
7. Un jour dans les flots, No. 4 Prophéte Meyerbeer
8. The trab trab polka Jullien