A FINE AND RARE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH MUSICAL AUTOMATON NECESSAIRE C. 1860

A FINE AND RARE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH MUSICAL AUTOMATON NECESSAIRE C. 1860

the rectangular sewing or work box opening to reveal a reverse glass painted automata scene in the lid, depicting a windmill which has moving sails, a train which travels across a bridge and a boat which rocks back and forth, the automaton, wound from the top is activated by a small on/off switch on the front of the case, the music also starts when the box lid is lifted, the interior with a red velvet lined tray containing various necessaire tools such as scissors and glass perfume bottles, with numerous cotton reels, the tray concealing the Swiss musical segmented comb movement below, which is activated by a switch, with key and winding key, sold together with documents regarding a G. Mann who won the work box at a raffle in 1854,

37cm wide x 27cm deep x 15cm high

In very good condition and in working order.

These necessesaires, made for noble ladies were designed to entertain as rare and unusual novelties.