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Lot Essay
The original nine cylinders consist of: No. 1, variations on two popular ballads by Thalberg; No. 2, variations on Carnival of Venice and Lilly Dale; No. 3, variations on Home Sweet Home and The Last Rose of Summer by Thalberg; No. 4, operatic overtures by Meyerbeer, Weber, Mozart and Rossini; No. 5, two overtures (Somnambula and La Muette de Portici), the Wedding March and a Beethoven waltz; No. 6, Auld Lang Syne and Keel Row in two parts each; No. 7 (missing); No. 8, one overture and two operatic arias, including two from Faust; No. 9, all operatic; No. 10, hymns (two-per-turn); No. 11, Halleluljah Chorus and three hymns; No. 12, variations on Bonnie Dundee and Caller Herrin.
The main plaque is headed Piece a 9 Cylindres Ouvertures, and the original supplier's name (with the address written in French) is Wales & Mc Culloch of 22 Ludgate Hill, London. Cylinders numbers 1 - 9 were supplied originally (Gamme no. 3019); of these, cylinder No. 7 (consisting apparently of variations by Richard) is missing. The word 'overture' used in this context for a mixed programme indicates that this was a classification of quality as much as a listed description of the music. Cylinder No. 10 was clearly added slightly later and cylinders 11 and 12 (which share the third plaque) must have been added still later; these last two do not have the engine-turning present on the drive wheel and end-knob of the others.
Whether made as an exhibition piece or as a special commission, this musical box - with its wide-ranging repertoire - was clearly made to impress. The movement is in good playing condition and, apart from the replacement teeth, does not appear to have been restored - certainly not for many years. There are approximately 226 teeth (about 113 in each comb).
The main plaque is headed Piece a 9 Cylindres Ouvertures, and the original supplier's name (with the address written in French) is Wales & Mc Culloch of 22 Ludgate Hill, London. Cylinders numbers 1 - 9 were supplied originally (Gamme no. 3019); of these, cylinder No. 7 (consisting apparently of variations by Richard) is missing. The word 'overture' used in this context for a mixed programme indicates that this was a classification of quality as much as a listed description of the music. Cylinder No. 10 was clearly added slightly later and cylinders 11 and 12 (which share the third plaque) must have been added still later; these last two do not have the engine-turning present on the drive wheel and end-knob of the others.
Whether made as an exhibition piece or as a special commission, this musical box - with its wide-ranging repertoire - was clearly made to impress. The movement is in good playing condition and, apart from the replacement teeth, does not appear to have been restored - certainly not for many years. There are approximately 226 teeth (about 113 in each comb).