G. Baker-Troll & Company
TSAR NICOLAS
1878
A gift for his 10th birthday, this Sublime Harmony Music Box of 6 cylinders belonged to Tsar Nicolas of Russia.
10 CYLINDERS
6 TUNES
1 MUSICAL COMB
193 REEDS
51” X 62”9 X 27”5
G. Baker-Troll & Co.
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Manufacturer
George Baker and Samuel Troll were well-known creators of music boxes who merged their independent companies in 1874 into G. Baker-Troll & Co.
The partnership did not last. Nonetheless it was a very fruitful one and resulted in a range of music boxes of the utmost quality, featuring most skilfully crafted mechanisms of extraordinary sound quality combined with marvellous cabinets.
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Introduction
et polonaise brillante
Composer: Chopin
technique
From a total of 10 cylinders in the collection, this Sublime Harmony Music Box can play one cylinder at a time. With a steady head, careful alignment and a solid amount of strength the cylinders can be exchanged. When the cylinder is locked into place and the mechanism is wound up, the cylinder begins to turn. The musical comb is plucked by the protruding pins that capture a musical arrangement on the surface of the cylinder.
This particular example, very special due to its royal owner, is housed in an ebony cabinet exquisitely decorated with three porcelain plates by Sèvres, one of Europe's leading porcelain manufacturers from Vincennes, France.
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