Friday, March 17, 2017

Friday Video: A Golden Music Box with a Rope Dancer, c1785

Friday, March 17, 2017

Susan reporting,

Loretta and I both have a well-documented (here, here, and here) weakness for automatons and other mechanical trinkets for the very wealthy in the 18thc. Automatons were often made as a collaboration between jewelers and watchmakers,  and it's difficult to say whether this luxurious little beauty is a music-box masquerading as jewelry, or an ornament that makes music. Imagine a gentleman taking this from the deep pockets of his coat to entertain his friends, or a lady keeping it among the other amusements on her bedside table, ready to wind up and play for a special child.

Automated music-box, gold, Geneva, c1785. Victoria & Albert Museum.

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3 comments:

Caroline Clemmons said...

I love your Friday videos. This was worth waiting a week.

Have you viewed Ipe Decking information said...

Beautiful musical box. Wish I could have that.

Unknown said...

Fascinating, I was entranced

 
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