James Conley Antiques - www.jamesconleyantiques.com.au
Brisbane Antiques Furniture, Silver and Fine Arts Dealer
German Polyphon musical box - Circa 1880-1900This is a fine example of a late 19th Century, German made, Polyphon musical box, enclosed in a solid walnut case. The case has panels of marquetry flowers and an implied scene of cherubs on its lid interior. The Polyphon's hand-wound spring mechanism plays 15.5" disc's; a range of 9 different tunes are included and are all in excellent working order. The Polyphon has been perfectly married with a delightful table with a single drawer, which houses the interchangeable discs.
Polyphon's and musical boxes of the 18th and 19th century were seen as automatic musical instruments, producing sounds by the use of interchangeable metal discs or cylinders plucking the tuned teeth. Polyphon's were a progression of the earlier developed musical snuff boxes of the 18th Century. The cylinders or discs are usually made of metal and powered by a spring mechanism and together were originally designed and made by artisan watchmakers.
Musical boxes come in a all sizes, ranging from smaller easily transportable pieces to larger items of furniture the size of Grandfather clocks. Most however were table top specimens like the one above. In the early 20th Century, most polyphon's were progressively substituted by 'player pianos' which were louder, more flexible and tuneful. Also aiding the demise of musical boxes and Polyphon's was the invention of the smaller gramophones which had the benefit of playing back voices.
Mass produced children's jewellery boxes still use a simplified hand-wound cylinder mechanism to thrill its audience.
Your Antiques furniture are awesome.they are very flexible and tuneful.carpenters in brisbane
ReplyDeleteI have a great interest in antique collections and I am always in search of it. I want to add some new antique furniture you have discussed over here in my collection. Thanks for sharing.
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