Marquetry wooden music box by Nicole Frères

Marquetry wooden music box by Nicole Frères
Swiss, Late 19th Century
Height 14cm, width 64cm, depth 19cm
 
This elegant wooden music box is a fine example of 19th-century craftsmanship, combining both artistic beauty and functional musicality. Crafted by the renowned Swiss firm Nicole Frères, this box showcases the refined marquetry and intricate mechanical design that defined high-quality music boxes of the era.
 
The rectangular wooden case is adorned with an intricate marquetry design on the lid, featuring sprays of flowers and foliage framing two songbirds, an ode to the musical nature of the piece. An ornate key rests within an escutcheon on the front of the box. Opening the lid reveals the inner workings of the music box, with the mechanism operated by a lever on the side, hidden behind a wooden flap. This box, like many of its kind, uses a pinned cylinder and comb system. As the cylinder rotates, pins pluck the comb’s teeth to produce melodies. Once a song is played, the cylinder shifts slightly, allowing the box to play a new tune from the same cylinder.
 
Inside the lid is a handwritten label titled "Musique de Genève," listing the eight melodies the box plays, along with details about its maker and recipient. Nicole Frères, celebrated for their exquisite music boxes, crafted this piece in Switzerland, while the recipient was the London-based retailer Thomas Cox Savory & Co., a well-known silversmith and retailer. This connection between Swiss craftsmanship and English retailing adds a layer of historical intrigue to the piece.
 
With its detailed marquetry, elegant design, and finely tuned mechanism, this music box not only serves as a decorative object but also as a functional piece of history. Similar examples of Nicole Frères' music boxes are found in prestigious collections, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, underscoring the significance and collectability of this item.
 
Artist/Maker: Nicole Frères