Four Large Must Have Musical Boxes for Music Box and Antique Collectors

Large musical boxes have been in existence since the 1820's. For the music box and antique collector, there are four large musical boxes which are particularly unique and "a must have" for any collection. They are the mandolin music box, piccolo music box, orchestra music box, and the rare revolver music box.

Mandolin Music Boxes

Mandolin music boxes are strung with four strings, which are the same as those of a violin. The resulting sound is one of romance with the notes drifting softly in the air. These music boxes typically are not difficult to find since a large number were made. Finding a music box such as this would be a special addition to the music box and antique collector of inlaid music boxes, ballerina music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, and more.

Piccolo Music Box

While piccolo music boxes are an octave higher than most music boxes, if the music box and antique collector can withstand its rather shrill notes, it too can be a collectors jewel. Since some of these music boxes were made with a harmony arrangement that accompanied the high pitched notes, the sound becomes much more pleasing.

Orchestra Music Box

This music box is unique and has everything. The music box is an interchangeable one with bells, drums, and organ. Some even have dancing dolls inside which move in time to the music. It would be a fun music box to have for any antique or music box collector.

Revolver Music Box

The revolver music box is quite rare. It is much more unique and impressive than some of the ballerina music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, and wooden keepsake boxes seen today. David Tallis in ?Music Boxes: A Guide for Collectors states: "Perhaps the most impressive piece of machinery in the musical box field is the Revolver Music box. Invented by Amedee Paillard at St Croix in 1870, it consisted of a set of cylinders fixed on a rotating shaft so that any one could be brought into contact with the comb at time. There are three illustrations of revolver boxes in Nicole Graham Webb's book, one being a fine mandolin box by Nicole Freres. It has six cylinders, each playing six airs; a repertoire of 36 airs without table or drawers. However, they were so difficult to make that very few are to be found."

For the music box and antique collector, the mandolin music box, piccolo music box, orchestra music box, and revolver music box would be excellent collectible items. Why not add then to your collection today?

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

Established in May of 2005, http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms decor, whimsical carousel music boxes, and musical jewelry boxes. The company provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages. Owner Monique Hawkins is also the author of the blog "What You Never Knew About Music" http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com, and owner of the eBay store "Monique's Music Box" at: http://stores.ebay.com/moniquesmusicbox/ Monique can be contacted at (540) 858-2885.

Four Must Have Musical Art Objects for the Music Box and Antique Collector

There are other lovely pieces of musical art objects in addition to ballerina music boxes, music figurines, wooden jewelry boxes, and other types of music boxes and antiques that the music box and antique collector can look for. These are the musical seal, musical watches, early carillon and automaton boxes, and musical watches with singing birds and barking dogs.

Musical Seals

The musical seal is a piece of musical jewelry. The musical movement typically is one with eight notes; therefore, only very simple tunes can be played on them. They also are always made of gold and decorated with enamel and hard stones.

Because musical seals are expensive, the music box and antique collector needs to be very careful they are not purchasing a fake imitation. David Tallis in "Music Boxes: A Guide for Collectors" has this to say: "If you have any doubts about buying a musical seal, look very carefully at the stop-start slide. If the seal is a fake, you can usually see that the hole for the slide cover is cut rather crudely in the gold."

Musical Watches

Musical watches were made for those who loved "show off" accessories in the regency period. The maker of the first musical watch was Philippe Sameul Meylan, who made the watch with a radial disc type movement. The music played by most watches is Swiss traditional tunes such as "Ranz des Vaches". There also are some which play the national anthems of France and England.

Musical watches were made by a number of people such as Le Roy of Paris, Henri Capt of Geneva, and Jean Antoine Lepine of Paris to name a few.

Some musical watches are difficult and expensive to repair. Therefore, the music box and antique collector need to inspect a watch carefully before it is purchased to ensure it is in good working order and not of inferior quality.

Early Carillon and Automaton

A valuable prize for music box and antique collector would be to find a music box, which plays on bells instead of steel teeth. Finding such a box as this would be a rare find. David Tallis states: "Very few boxes appear on the open market and one of the most recent, an enameled gold box containing a carillon musical movement, fetched several thousands pounds in the salesrooms".

Watches with Singing Birds and Barking Dogs

The rarest of most musical art is the musical watch with either a singing bird or barking dog. The singing bird has the mechanisms of the singing bird in addition to normal watch functions. When a special lever is pressed, a bird appears out of the watches side and on its back all the while singing a song.

The barking dog musical watch has an animated dog which barks and is displayed when the watch hours change. This musical watch is quite rare and would be a great addition for the collection of the music box and antique collector.

For the music box and antique collector, there are other interesting and unique pieces of musical art, which can be found in addition to ballerina music boxes, music figurines, and wooden jewelry boxes. Why not expand your collection today?

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

Established in May of 2005, http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms decor, whimsical carousel music boxes, and musical jewelry boxes. The company provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages. Owner Monique Hawkins is also the author of the blog "What You Never Knew About Music" http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com, and owner of the eBay store "Monique's Music Box" at: http://stores.ebay.com/Moniques-Music-Box Monique can be contacted at (540) 858-2885.