$32,900
Mermod Freres Ideal Sublime Harmony Piccolo Interchangeable Musical Box, Swiss/American, 1890s, No. 121344, with four 24 1/2 x 3 1/2-inch cylinders playing six airs each, three-piece comb, nickeled movement, zither attachment, tune indicator/selector, saftery check, massive spring motor and butterfly-shaped spreed regulator, in mahogany case with paneled lid, carved front and drawer in plinth for three cylinders, wd. 49 in. The cylinders are numbered as follows:117/121753; 87/120943; 118/121829; 72/119587. The 24 1/2-inch was Mermod's largest and retailed for $787.50 in mahogany with one cylinder, additional cylinders being $175. Provenance: Ernest Howard Crosby and Fanny Kendall Schieffelin Crosby, of "Grasemere", Rhinebeck, New York. Ernest Crosby (1856-1907) was an early proponent of the anti-imperialist view in the US during and after the Spanish-American War as well as the leading disciple of Leo Tolstoy in this country.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2002-10-27
