$6,463
Rare Part-Hidden Bell Musical Box by Lecoultre & Brechet, No. 24842, playing eight airs accompanied by three bells with six hammers mounted vertically at the treble end of the comb, with flat-topped winding lever and brass control plate with instant stop, the brass bedplate stamped F. Lecoultre & Brechet , the comb with B.B.C. L.B retailer's stamp, in walnut case with red interior, boxwood stringing and ebony veneered lid inlaid with engraved brass arabesques, mother-of-pearl flowers and colored enamels in spandrels around a central painted cartouche, wd. 23 in., cylinder 14 1/2 in. Note: A transitional box, the three bells are mounted in sight vertically where the control plate would usually be found, with the bell bracket attached directly to the bedplate. To accommodate this arrangement, a narrow brass control plate overhangs the bedplate by an inch on the governor side, and there are six sound apertures (one for each bell) on the underside of the case. Lecoultre was evidently proud of his innovative design, as there is no lever for disengaging the bells during play. Lecoultre and Brechet were working together from around 1844 - 1854.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2005-05-03
