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Silver-Gilt Musical Snuff Box by François Nicole
About the Item
This exceptional Swiss silver-gilt musical snuff box was crafted by the famed François Nicole. At first glance, the diminutive piece appears to simply be an exquisite 19th-century snuff box, with Neoclassical-style chased and engraved borders of foliage and flowering thistles. A quick wind of the key, however, reveals the complex mechanism hidden inside. The musical movement plays two airs with a fine single-piece comb of 61 teeth. The movement is in exceptional condition, complete with its original key.
Once known as carillons à musique, musical snuff boxes were once considered status symbols amongst the wealthy elite. A step above the traditional snuff box, musical boxes helped to influence the development and popularity of all music box production in the 19th century.
Comb stamped "F. NICOLE"
Circa 1820
Measures: 3 7/16" wide x 2 1/8" deep x 1" high.
- Dimensions:Height: 1 in (2.54 cm)Width: 3.44 in (8.74 cm)Depth: 2.13 in (5.42 cm)
- Style:Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1820
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New Orleans, LA
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
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Established in 1912
1stDibs seller since 2010
93 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 7 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New Orleans, LA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
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