Shop clearance, new and antique items. Low start price.
Lot 15:
Not sold
Description
A mid-20th-century music box or jewelry box constructed of gilt metal in the shape of a grand piano. The hinged lid is decorated with a raised relief of a large floral bloom, likely a peony or poppy, finished in red enamel with gold-tone accents and two butterfly motifs. The sides of the piano body feature embossed foliate and scrollwork patterns, and the keyboard section is rendered in relief to represent individual keys. The box is supported by three cabriole-style metal feet. The interior of the lid contains a mirror with a red and green decorative border. The interior compartment is lined with red velvet. A hinged, green-framed rectangular section sits above the mechanical components and holds a color photographic portrait of a woman in a mid-century brown jacket and striped shirt. A small metal lever, possibly for activating the music mechanism, is visible to the left of the photograph. The base is not visible in the provided images, and no maker’s marks or country-of-origin stamps are identifiable on the exterior or interior surfaces.
Condition report:
The gilt metal exterior exhibits significant age-related wear, with extensive tarnishing and loss of the gold-tone finish across the lid, keyboard, and sides (photo 1). Surface abrasions and small areas of oxidation are visible along the lower edges of the body (photo 1). The interior mirror shows heavy degradation, including silvering loss and dark spotting across the reflective surface (photo 2). The red velvet lining is intact but shows minor lint and dust accumulation (photo 2). The green frame for the photograph appears secure, and the enameled decoration on the lid is largely intact without visible chips. The functionality of the music mechanism has not been tested.
Share this lot:
