ANTIQUE 19thC SWISS MADE CYLINDER MUSIC BOX BY LECOULTRE FRÈRES OF GENEVA c.1880

Antique 19th Century Swiss music box crafted in the form of a desk table. It comes with six interchangeable cylindrical discs, each playing a different tune. The piece was made by LeCoultre Frères of Geneva, Switzerland, a distinguished maker of high-quality cylinder music boxes active between 1812 and 1885. The firm belonged to the celebrated LeCoultre family, renowned for both musical boxes and watchmaking, a legacy that continues today under the name Jaeger-LeCoultre. This example dates to around 1880.

Operation is simple: pull the lever upwards on the left-hand side twice and return it to its resting position. Ensure the disc is secured by the two brass locking clips, then push the lever on the lower right upwards to start the music. If left in the upward position, the melody will repeat; for a single play, switch the lever off once the tune begins.

An exceptional feature of this piece is the fitted desk, which conceals five further discs within two lockable drawers. The original instruction document detailing how to change the discs is preserved, together with the original pair of keys.

Reference Number: NS11522