Nicole Freres Music Box Open
Nicole Freres Music Box
A Fine Nicole Frères Interchangeable Cylinder Music Box with Five Cylinders
Nicole Freres Music Box Open
Nicole Freres Music Box
A Fine Nicole Frères Interchangeable Cylinder Music Box with Five Cylinders

A Fine Nicole Frères Interchangeable Cylinder Music Box with Five Cylinders

Nwtiques
Price
Save £-7,500
/

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
WhatsApp Call Chat
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Complimentary UK delivery
Worldwide shipping
Green? Antiques are carbon neutral!
Secure payments

A magnificent late 19th-century Swiss cylinder music box by the celebrated Geneva makers Nicole Frères, complete with five interchangeable cylinders.

Height 24 / Width 84 / Depth 33cm

The substantial case is beautifully veneered in richly figured burr walnut, contrasted with ebonised mouldings and borders. The hinged lid opens to reveal a finely figured walnut interior, while a glazed inner cover protects the intricate musical movement beneath.

The movement incorporates a large brass pinned cylinder, steel comb and finely engineered mechanism, with the original black interior panel bearing the gilt Nicole Frères, Fabricants inscription, together with the firm's exhibition medals and distinctions.

Founded in Geneva in 1815, Nicole Frères became one of Switzerland's most respected manufacturers of mechanical music boxes, particularly renowned for the precision of their movements, musical quality and sophisticated arrangements. Their instruments were exhibited internationally and were among the finest examples of Swiss musical craftsmanship.

The inclusion of five interchangeable cylinders considerably expands the musical repertoire of this instrument, allowing the owner to enjoy a selection of different melodies. Such elaborate music boxes were expensive luxury objects, intended for the drawing rooms of affluent European households.

An exceptional example of 19th-century mechanical ingenuity, combining fine cabinetmaking, decorative craftsmanship and the sophisticated musical engineering for which Nicole Frères became internationally celebrated.

Switzerland, Geneva, second half of the 19th century.

Each cylinder has eight Airs some of which as follows: 

Here is a transcription of the 32 tunes across four cylinders of your Nicole Frères music box, preserving the titles as closely as possible to the original handwritten tune sheets.

Cylinder No. 1 — Waltzes

  1. Hyfalia Valse (spelling uncertain)

  2. Le Lac Valse

  3. Loving and Hoping Valse

  4. Fedora Valse

  5. Etudiantina Valse

  6. Kiyous Fidele Valse (spelling uncertain)

  7. Pan Tan Polka

  8. Fairy Voices Valse

Cylinder No. 2 — Songs and Popular Airs

  1. Overture — Maritana

  2. Scenes That Are Brightest — Maritana

  3. In Happy Moments — Maritana

  4. I Dreamt That I Dwelt — The Bohemian Girl

  5. When Other Lips — The Bohemian Girl

  6. The Heart Bowed Down — The Bohemian Girl

  7. The Last Rose of Summer

  8. Home, Sweet Home

Cylinder No. 3 — Sacred Music

  1. Comfort Ye My People — Messiah

  2. Hallelujah Chorus — Messiah

  3. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth — Messiah

  4. Let the Bright Seraphim — Samson

  5. Angels Ever Bright and Fair — Theodora

  6. Sound an Alarm — Judas Maccabaeus

  7. Gloria in Excelsis — Mozart's 12th Mass (as labelled)

  8. As Pants the Hart — Handel

Cylinder No. 4 — Operatic Airs

  1. Protesse (possibly "Protèse"; uncertain) — Guglielmo Tell

  2. Com'è gentil — Don Pasquale

  3. La Donna è mobile — Rigoletto

  4. Il segreto per esser — Lucrezia Borgia

  5. Un che la morte (possibly "Un dì che la morte") — Il Trovatore

  6. Libiamo ne' lieti calici — La Traviata

  7. Ombra leggiera — Dinorah

  8. Robert, toi que j'aime — Robert le Diable

 

The selection is particularly interesting for its combination of popular Victorian drawing-room music, operatic favourites by Verdi and Donizetti, and sacred works by Handel.

The handwritten tune sheets also retain the Nicole Frères globe trademark, an attractive original detail worth mentioning in the catalogue description.

 

RELATED COLLECTIONS THAT THIS PIECE FEATURES IN:

At Nicholas Wells Antiques, we take great care in preparing each piece for delivery. As every antique is unique, custom packaging and handling are essential to ensure safe transit. Only once we have checked each item and wax polished them do we aim to ship your order. We will notify you by email once it has been dispatched. Delivery times may vary depending on the item and your location.

Please contact us for a tailored worldwide shipping quote.

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
You may also like
More from Nwtiques
Recently viewed