A beautiful buffet-style upright antique music box made by Mojon Manger of Geneva, Switzerland in c. 1885. The musical movement features a highly attractive array of 6 rack-mounted saucer bells, each with individual coloured enamel floral finials, and plays with a very rich and pleasant sound, similar to a ‘Symphonique’ comb arrangement. A lever below the comb allows the bells to be engaged and disengaged at will. The governor bears the maker’s stamp: ‘M M C’ for Mojon Manger Company of Geneva. There is also an original engraved presentation plaque which reads:
‘Presented By
The Office Staff of 14 St Mary Axe
to Edward Wahab Esq
On the Occasion of His Marriage
9th February 1888’
Mr Wahab is listed seven years later as one of the directors of The British Indian Tea Company, headquartered at 14 St Mary Axe in London.
This music box was fully restored about 10 years ago and plays 8 popular tunes as listed on the replacement tunesheet. It comes in a lovely case veneered in burr walnut with tulipwood banding to the doors and sides, together with brass, kingwood, ebony and mother-of-pearl inlaid cartouches to the doors. It also has gilt carrying handles to the sides.
More details here: www.vincentfreemanantiques.co...