Antique Two Per Turn Music Box by Nicole Freres, c. 1856
A beautiful-sounding two per turn antique music box by Nicole Freres of Geneva, Switzerland, playing 12 operatic airs within a beautiful rosewood case.
The musical movement has been fully overhauled and is in excellent condition, and still has the original key for winding.
The tunesheet is also original, and details the serial number 33511 (also stamped on the bedplate) and the gamme number 1212, as well as the original retailer (T Cox, Savory & Co of 54 Cornhill, London). The twelve air repertoire is fully operatic with an excellent selection of music:
1: Me Protegge No.1. Norma. Bellini.
2: Hear me. Norma. Si fino. Bellini
3: Oh summer night. Don Pasquale. Donizetti.
4: Marche de la Fille du Regiment. Donizetti
5: Perche non posso odiarti. Somnambula. Bellini
6: Ah non giunge. Marche. Bellini
7: Finale des Diamans de la Couroune. Auber.
8: Quand je quittais ma Normandie. de Robert. Meyerbeer.
9: Suoni la tromba. Marche. Puritani. Bellini
10:Son vergin vezzosa polacia. Bellini
11: Largo al Factotum du Barbier. Rossini.
12: Zitti zitti piano piano. Rossini.
This is housed in a rosewood case with a nice scrolling inlay to the lid. There is a small element of old damage to the lid, visible only in a certain light, but which does not detract from the music box. It is an excellent example, with a superb sound and a wonderful repertoire.