A very fine quality antique cylinder music boxmade by the prestigious firm of Nicole Freres in Geneva, Switzerland in c. 1875.

The fully serviced musical movement features 6 bells, rack mounted with a beautiful brass harp central feature incised with brightwork detailing, together with a drum with 8 beaters and a castanet with 6 strikers.

The drum, bells and castanet can all be engaged and disengaged at will.

The music box plays a selection of 6 operatic tunes as detailed on the original Nicole Freres tunesheet, which features the serial number ‘46127’ that is also stamped on the brass bedplate.

It is housed within a gorgeous case veneered in rosewood with detailed motif inlays to the lid and the front as well as kingwood crossbanding to the lid, front, and sides.