Swiss Monumental Cylinder Music Box by Mermod Freres

The renowned Mermod Freres of Geneva built this rare monumental cylinder music box in the late 19th century. Only one of 10 known to exist in the world, this music box is an extraordinary example of mechanical design. Included with this piece are a total of five interchangeable cylinders measuring a staggering magnitude of 24-1/2” long by 3-1/4” in diameter. The cylinders hold six tunes each, playing a grand total of 30 tunes, all with sublime harmony piccolo arrangements. The instrument resides in a hand carved mahogany case, complete with matching table and original tune cards for each cylinder.

This was the largest and most expensive music box that Mermod offered. Built only on special order basis, due to the prohibitive cost of production. The selling price in the 1890s was a staggering $1,000, roughly the cost of two homes during this time period. This enchanting music box presents a unique opportunity to own a rare and exquisite example of music box history.

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