Featured Marquetry music jewellery box

Hi all,found this today. It has some obvious damage but it is still beautiful. The music box still works but there’s a dancing figurine or something missing. What do you think of the age? Possible origin? Maybe 60’s? Or 70’s. It is 16cm long,12cm high and 15cm wide. Thank you for any comments

 

Are there any manufacturer's marks on the mechanism or anywhere else ? Very pretty case.

 

What does it play?

Debora

 

Thanks for the comment and suggestion. I really like the woodwork. Only now figured how to get to the mechanism (ha ha )Mapsa,Switzerland. Will do some more research now to pinpoint the possible age.

 

Just a like a little tune/jingle.

 

Nothing you recognize?

Debora

 

Well, that's maddening!!!

Gorgeous box!

 

The marquetry looks like 1870s-1880s to me, although the “movement” is certainly newer.

 

is that a safety pin holding it in place??

 

Thanks so much for commenting. I didn’t think that old.That would be great.

 

Ha ha. A safety pin indeed. A added extra all for less than $2.

 

Marquetry musical jewelry boxes like yours were popular in the 1960s-70s. Whoever made them also made small occasional/end tables with music boxes inside--my mother had one.

Here's one similar to yours described as vintage Swiss Reuge Italian marquetry music jewelry box from the 1960s. https://thedesignersconsignment.com/product/33807.
If you google Italian marquetry music box you'll see many different examples. Yours looks like an earlier fancier version because of the more elaborate marquetry and shape, and the tufted velvet/satin? lining.

 

Lovely box, Boland.
This type of marquetry is called Sorrento Ware, from Sorrento, Italy.
These boxes are still being made, but yours is obviously a bit older, and needs a lot of tlc.

 

Info on Mapsa, the manufacturer of the movement:

https://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/200301/2003.01.04.07.html

So your box was made after 1953.

 

Great info. Thank you for the reply and the link. I did google now and will search some more,maybe I can find the exact one. Thanks again

 

Hi AJ,thank you for info. I appreciate the comment

 

Good to know. Thanks for the link AJ.

 

Definitely missing a little ballerina to dance in front of the mirror.

 

Or... as Elton John would say... a tiny dancer.

Debora