Swiss Gold Musical Snuff Box

This special and important Swiss gold music box is chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box.  Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket.

Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes such as this one were called carillons à musique.   Highly desired objects of status and crafted primarily in Switzerland, they influenced the development and popularity of all music box production in the 19th century.  

Circa 1820

 3 1/4" wide x 2" deep x 7/8" high