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.
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
Early F. Nicole Key-Wind Overture Box
This rare and important music box was made (and signed) c.1830 by Francis Nicole. His music boxes command an elevated place in the esteem of all music box collectors, even above the famed, later products, of Nicole Freres.
Playing on an unusual 3/4 format, it is actually a 3-tune music box, but the last turn is divided into two different tunes, hence the 4-tune listing on the tune card shown. There are 147 teeth playing on a 10.5" cylinder, over 14 per inch, very fine spacing indeed.
#479
“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