A Nicole Freres Masterpiece. “The Holy Grail of Music Boxes”. If you are interested in acquiring a fine Swiss music box, then you must certainly be aware of the premier maker, a family enterprise that essentially founded the business of making music boxes, and made only “The Best” for many years. Their Geneva-based firm remains the gold standard of music boxes to this day. We are pleased to offer this, the finest type of cylinder music box made by Nicole, or anyone else for that matter. Bearing serial #44266, dating to 1872, it plays four operatic overtures, the titles of which can be seen on the original engraved tune card shown in the pictures: Freischutz, Fra Diavolo, Semiramide, and William Tell. The mechanism consists of a 4″ diameter x 17″ long cylinder and combs with hundreds of finely spaced teeth. There are all in tune with no damper squeaks or other noises. The music section was completely restored about 13 years ago by the renowned Dave Beck (since retired). Thus, it plays as well as it did when it was made in 1872. This is a very rare piano-forte format, with the larger comb housing 170 teeth, and the smaller one 60 teeth, for a total of 230. The casework, measuring 31″ x 14″ x10, with extensive decorative and banded inlay, and bronze lifting handles, was restored by the late Domenic DiBernardo in Canada, a renowned collector who was an absolute perfectionist with casework restoration. Music boxes such as this were not mass-produced; indeed Grand Format overture pieces were specially commissioned for wealthy buyers and royalty. They rarely, if ever, come up for sale. This has been in our collection for about 10 years, and only advancing age prompts it’s sale. We have other overture music boxes in stock, including another Nicole Freres Grand Format Overture. We are a leading world-wide dealer and specialist in mechanical music, clocks and phonographs and stand by what we sell 100%. Musical Treasures of Miami. 2940 West Lake Vista Circle, Davie, FL 33328. Antique Music Boxes – Clocks – Phonographs. Best Quality Best Selection Best Guarantee.