Details
Image(s)
TitleMusical Fob-Seal with Stagged Comb Movement
Creatorunknown
PlaceGeneva (Switzerland)
Year ca. 1815
Object number0775
Object categorymechanical instruments with playing comb, music boxes
Object namemusic box with cylinder
DescriptionA breloque or seal was a fairly popular accessory that could hang from a watch chain; this is one of the finest examples in our collection, with gold, sapphires and multicolored enameled flowers.
Accompanying textsThe playing comb consists of nine teeth stacked on top of each other (this type of arrangement is called a stacked comb). The breloque plays one melody, a late 18th-century Viennese folk tune called "O du lieber Augustin."
Although this breloque looks rather fancy, the word in French apparently also implied something small and unimportant - a meager trifle with no special value. 'Battre la breloque' has become an idiom meaning 'talking nonsense.'
Although this breloque looks rather fancy, the word in French apparently also implied something small and unimportant - a meager trifle with no special value. 'Battre la breloque' has become an idiom meaning 'talking nonsense.'
Dimensions
geheel height: 4.5 cm
geheel width: 3 cm
geheel depth: 2 cm
cilinder diameter: 14 mm
geheel width: 3 cm
geheel depth: 2 cm
cilinder diameter: 14 mm
Digital references