This is a charming compact antique music box featuring two dancing dolls and two bells struck by a central mandarin automaton, made by Charles Ullman of Auberson, Switzerland in c. 1890. More details here:
www.vincentfreemanantiques.co...
When the music plays, the two dolls spin and dance while the mandarin automaton turns his head and strikes the bells. It plays a selection of 8 popular tunes of the day with a bright and jolly sound, perfectly in keeping with the spectacle of the dolls and the central bell striker. The tunes are listed on the replacement tunesheet on the underside of the lid.
The comb bears Ullman’s ‘Qualite Excelsior’ stamp in its centre, and there is also a metal manufacturer’s label to the left hand side. This has all been rehoused in a very nice veneered case with inlays to both the front and sides.
It is a rare and very entertaining music box, compact in size but hugely charming.