Music Box
Production date
Circa 19th Century
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Object detail
Description
Music box, lacquered wooden box with painted panels, containing a musical mechanism that plays six airs. The box is rectangular with a hinged lid. The exterior of the box features four panels of painted, indistinct landscape scenes. The exterior of the box also features two brass hinges and a brass lock. Inside the box is a hinged compartment with a glass lid, containing a metal mechanism which has a cylinder with small pegs on it. The cylinder rotates and the pegs strike teeth on a metal comb which produces a musical note. The comb has 52 teeth (lamallae) and the cylinder is 145mm long. On the lefthand side of the mechanism is the winding lever and the righthand side of the mechanism features two levers, one to start and stop the music and the other lever is change/repeat lever. A card panel is attached to the interior of the lid. The panel features printed images of two large columns and a number of cherubs playing musical instruments. Each column has a banner spiralling around it, upon which is written the names of musical composers (Rossini, Weber, Meierbeer, Flotow, Strauss, Labitzki, Ghncl, Schuloff). The card also contains the handwritten names of the six songs played by the box (1. Les Caratines des Vepres Sicilieimes. 2. Polska Viennesse de Strauss. 3. La Tiu-e Choeur S_nne_ Clairons. 4. Lanolar das Muilister Gertlemben. 5. Valse No.2 Gior_A Mifsella. 6. Blumen der Lust Valt_Gungl.).
Classification
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Automatic music box
Production date
Circa 19th Century
Measurements
L300 x W62 x H21mm Weight: 3.47 kg
Media/Materials description
Wood, ferrous metal, paper
Signature/Marks
Etouffoirs en Acier Soit a Spiraux
6 8 2
6 8 2
History and use
This 19th century wooden music box has a lacquered exterior with painted panels displaying landscape images. Inside the box, sound is produced by the use of a set of pins placed on a revolving cylinder so as to pluck the tuned teeth of a steel comb when rotated. This comb has 52 tuned teeth (lamallae) and plays 6 airs (classical tunes). A card panel is attached to the interior of the lid featuring cherubs and banners displaying the names of composers such as Rossini and Strauss. The card contains the handwritten names of the six songs played by the box.
The music box is part of the Marks collection donated to the Queensland Museum by Dr E.N. Marks. The Marks were a prominent Brisbane family who made significant contributions to the fields of science and medicine.
The music box is part of the Marks collection donated to the Queensland Museum by Dr E.N. Marks. The Marks were a prominent Brisbane family who made significant contributions to the fields of science and medicine.
Registration number
H13157
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