Swiss Gold Musical Snuff Box

About the Item

This special and important Swiss gold music box is chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box. Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket. Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes such as this one were called carillons à musique. Highly desired objects of status and crafted primarily in Switzerland, they influenced the development and popularity of all music box production in the 19th century, circa 1820.

Dimensions:
Height: 0.88 in (2.24 cm)Width: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Style:
Other (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Gold
Place of Origin:
Switzerland
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1820
Condition:
Seller Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 29-95491stDibs: LU89118265693