A rare and beautiful two-per-turn mandolin antique music box made by the prestigious firm of Nicole Freres of Geneva, Switzerland in c. 1870. 

It is most unusual in that it plays 20 operatic tunes – a high volume of songs for a Nicole Freres two-per-turn box – and I believe very few of these boxes were made. The movement features a fat cylinder and has a very nice sound with fine mandolin arrangements of the music. It has all been fully serviced and is in excellent condition. 

The case is also rather special, veneered in rosewood with finely detailed musical inlay motifs to both the lid and the front, together with kingwood crossbanding, canted corners, and all sitting on an ebonised plinth. 

All aspects of this music box mark it out as superior quality and rather special.