$16,450
Fine Key-Wind Overture Musical Box by Humbert Brolliet, No. 17658, playing four overtures, including The Barber of Seville, The Magic Flute , and The Freyschutz , engraved on the bedplate Humbert Brolliet and stamped à Geneve , with brass comb-washers, ratcheting crank key and rosewood veneered case with boxwood stringing, hinged endflap, red interior, and inlaid lid depicting Daniel in the Lions' Den in central cartouche of flowers and foliate scrolls, wd. 20 in., cylinder 10 3/4 x 3 1/8 in. dia. Note: A renowned family of Swiss watchmakers, the Humbert name is ocasionally found on musical boxes of exceptional mechanical quality and musical dexterity. The engraving of the serial numbers, the case hardware and the rich musical arrangements bear a strong similarity to early overture musical boxes by Ducommun Girod, including one sold at Skinner in November 2005, lot 433, suggesting that Humbert Brolliet may have acted as retailer for this maker. There are approximately 157 teeth in the comb; the movement is in fine restored condition.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2006-07-29
