An uncommon Swiss musical box chair, the back carved and…
click the photo to enlarge
An uncommon Swiss musical box chair, the back carved and pierced with edelweiss framing a panel inlaid with chamois in an alpine landscape, the shaped seat with similar inlay with spring action activating the musical box, raised on cabriole legs with carved edelweiss detail at the knees. Height 96 cm.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Pierced Decoration - Ornamental woodwork with part of the background cut through and removed to produce an open-work pattern.
  • Cabriole Leg - The cabriole leg evolved from an elongated scroll, curving out at the knee which may or may not be carved, and forming a serpentine shape as it descends to the foot.

    First introduced into English furniture in the late 17th century, cabriole legs were widely used during the Queen Anne and early Georgian periods, where they frequently terminated in a pad foot or ball and claw foot. The style has had many imitators since then. The cabriole leg was re-introduced in the mid-19th century, and is commonly associated with the balloon-back dining or drawing-room chairs made in walnut, mahogany or, in Australia, cedar. The Victorian cabriole leg, on the whole, was rather more slender than the earlier form, following the French style, which emphasized the delicacy and daintiness of the chairs they were designed to support. Cabriole legs are sometimes found on windsor chairs, especially those made during the 18th century.
  • Inlay - Decorative patterns inserted into the main body of a piece of furniture, generally in wood of contrasting colour and grain, though brass, ivory, ebony, shell and sometimes horn have been used. Inlay may consist of a panel of well figured timber inset into a cabinet door front, geometric patterns, or complex and stylized designs of flowers, swags of foliage, fruits and other motifs. As a general rule, in pieces where the carcase is constructed in the solid, the inlay is relatively simple such as stringing, cross banding and herringbone banding. Where more elaborate and decorative work was required veneer was used. Inlay has been fashionable from at least the latter half of the 17th century, when a variety of elaborate forms were developed
  • Parquetry - Parquetry is inlay laid in geometric patterns, the contrast being achieved by the opposing angles of the grain and veneers. The herringbone pattern is the most commonly used in flooring, but this is almost never seen in furniture - the patterns used are more complex and unlike flooring, can include several different varieties of timber.

Visually similar items

A walnut Swiss musical chair, the back with marquetry decoration above a wooden seat enclosing mechanism on cabriole legs.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Japy Freres, 19th century French mantel clock. Bell striking movement, surmounted by a porcelain urn with an acorn finial, hand painted porcelain dial with enamel Roman numerals chapter, with Sevres style porcelain panel hand painted with ladies in a garde

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Pair of antique French candelabra garnitures, in rococo style with 4 branches, with marble bases, 64 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A fine Victorian Coalbrookdale cast iron hallstand with central mirror flanked by scrolled hooks, below a drawer, flanked by scrolled umbrella stand. 213 cm high, 114 cm wide

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.