Overture Boxes
The Holy Grail: "Grand Format" Overture Music Boxes
Musically, overture boxes were the very finest pieces of their day. Their "fat" cylinders play a small number of extended airs. Usually custom-built in very small numbers, they are the most prized of all music boxes and are considered to be the "Holy Grail" of all music box collectors.
Nicole Freres 6-Cylinder Overture Music Box & Writing Desk
An exceptional interchangeable cylinder music box, Nicole Frères, No. 47417, circa 1877 on matching writing desk. A “true Nicole”, made on custom order by the family prior to their selling the firm to others, with later serial numbers showing a decline in quality and performance due to the departure of the Nicole brothers.
The two-part comb has a total of 226 finely spaced teeth. Six 16-1/4” x 3-1/8” diameter, 4-tune cylinders include: three with two 2-selection variations, two with four overtures, and one with eight two-per-turn hymns. Each cylinder plays four 1 ½ minute selections for a total of 6 minutes.
The lever-wind mechanism on ribbed brass bedplate with engine-turned double spring barrels is in a cross banded burr-walnut case with birds-eye maple interior and silvered tune plaque, on matching writing desk with ebonized interior, tooled leather writing surface, storage compartments, three drawers and cylinder storage compartment below.
Dimensions: 43 - 1/2" x 25 - 3/4" x 43 - 3/4".
Renowned author Arthur Ord-Hume (“The Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments”) characterizes variation arrangements as "one of the most interesting and musically spectacular styles” The large number of teeth enable the dramatic embellishments and musical fireworks that are the signature of this style.
#497
6-Overture Music Box
A spectacular music box, made by Ami Rivenc of Geneva, Switzerland. This rare and historic instrument plays overtures from six operas, on a 3” diameter (“fat”) cylinder. Housed in a beautiful burled walnut case, and displaying it’s original tune card, and a plaque by the maker, an unusual affectation among Swiss music boxes usually placed on only the very finest pieces.
Music boxes such as this were only made on special order and were not regular production items. You will be amazed by the wonderful music emanating from it.
#490
Nicole Freres Grand Format Overture Piano-Forte Music Box
One of the finest music boxes we have ever had the pleasure of acquiring... a piano-forte Nicole Grand Format Overture.
It is a sight to behold and hear, with spectacular inlays and a fully (professionally) restored movement and casework.
#480
Nicole Freres “Grand Format” Overture Music Box
Listen to the selections here:
The "Gold Standard' of music boxes are Nicole Freres Grand Overture models. This c.1865 example has a 17" x 4" cylinder, playing extremely long and complex arrangements. Every detail of this music box, from the fine, ornate inlay, the 154 inlaid mother-of-pearl adornments, brass moldings, etc. to the original, engraved tune sheet, shows the quality and care that went into this masterpiece.
The musical program consists of four overture selections from The Magic Flute, Freishutz, Semiramide and my personal favorite, The William Tell Overture. A professionally recorded HD sound file for your listening pleasure can be downloaded by clicking on the link above.
This music box has been at the world-famous Baud Museum Workshop in L'Auberson, Switzerland, having undergone a thorough servicing and tuning to ensure that it will play as originally intended for many years to come. It looks, and plays, as new. The casework was also restored to original, as-new condition by the renowned Swiss master craftsman, Monsieur Denis Margot in L'Auberson.
#449
“4-Overture” Music Box
A c.1870 "Overture" music box by F. Conchon, Geneva, serviced and restored by the Baud Museum in Ste. Croix. Plays four overtures by Rossini, Gunod, etc. You will not find a better playing or nicer looking music box of this size anywhere.
#404