A mechanically identical musical box was sold in these rooms on March 10th 1994, Lot 110. The present example is housed in a custom-made case, very unusual both for its English late 18th-century style and for its solid oak carcase, which adds to its already considerable weight.
As a concession to conventional musical box styling, the lid and plinth mouldings are ebonised, although they are different in form from the normal Swiss pattern.
There is no serial number on the movement, although some parts are stamped with the number 80.