Forte-piano Music Box By Mouliné Ainé

Rare music box by Mouliné Ainé.
This box was made around 1840-1850 and is in very good condition.
The mechanism plays 4 melodies on a 21.8cm cylinder on 2 combs in a Forte-Piano setting. The large comb plays loudly, the small comb plays with a softer volume. This gives the music an extra dimension and is mechanically very difficult to achieve.
The mechanism is signed at the top left of the bottom and numbered 1767.
The original score is faded but legible. 'Du Du liegt mich im Herzen' is song number 3 and is rarely found on music boxes. The mechanism is presented in a fruitwood case, as would be expected for a music box of this make and era. On the left side is the flap which hides the three control levers of the mechanism. Mouliné Ainé is known for its high quality music boxes and this one is no exception. Ord Hume writes on page 296 in “The Musical Box, a Guide for Collectors”.
Serial number: 1767
Cylinder length 21.8cm

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