Details
Image(s)
TitleMusical Snuff Box with Cylinder Movement
Creator Henri Daniel Capt
PlaceGeneva (Switzerland)
Year ca. 1820
Object number0395
Object categorymechanical instruments with playing comb, music boxes
Object namemusic box with cylinder
DescriptionThis snuffbox has a painting on the front; the scene shows a couple of people rowing in a boat on a lake or river, while others stand on the riverbank - one washes clothes in the river. Also depicted is the edge of a town atop a hill, some trees, a larger tower and smaller buildings, clothes hanging to dry, and more green hills in the distance. The movement's cylinder is made of brass.
Accompanying textsThe 2-air cylinder movement is fitted with an early one-piece playing comb with 72 teeth and bearing the signature 'H. CAPT'.
Because the cylinder playing work was an instant success, it was quickly incorporated into the Geneva jewellery industry. One of the pioneers was Henri Capt who, also sometimes together with his brother-in-law Isaak-Daniel Piguet, produced many small objects with musical movements.
The use of snuff (tobacco powder) was very common all over the world in the 18th century. So it was an already popular consumer item, which in this case was more luxuriously 'packaged' with a mechanical musical movement.
In fact, it was very common to find snuffboxes that also played music. Arthur Ord-Hume describes an anecdote in which a gentleman was embarrassed when his musical snuffbox started playing, apparently of its own accord, a song about brandy during a church service.
Because the cylinder playing work was an instant success, it was quickly incorporated into the Geneva jewellery industry. One of the pioneers was Henri Capt who, also sometimes together with his brother-in-law Isaak-Daniel Piguet, produced many small objects with musical movements.
The use of snuff (tobacco powder) was very common all over the world in the 18th century. So it was an already popular consumer item, which in this case was more luxuriously 'packaged' with a mechanical musical movement.
In fact, it was very common to find snuffboxes that also played music. Arthur Ord-Hume describes an anecdote in which a gentleman was embarrassed when his musical snuffbox started playing, apparently of its own accord, a song about brandy during a church service.
Dimensions
geheel height: 4.1 cm
geheel width: 9.5 cm
geheel depth: 6 cm
cilinder diameter: 18 mm
grondplaat 6 mm
geheel width: 9.5 cm
geheel depth: 6 cm
cilinder diameter: 18 mm
grondplaat 6 mm
Digital references