A superb antique gilt metal and pictorial enamel grand piano-form musical box,

Vienesse,

Circa 1890

Large size with double-sided enamel panels,

Virtuoso enamel scenes incorporating every single colour...

When wound and actuated by lifting the keyboard lid, the two airs of music starts to play - lift the instrument lid with prop to make louder.

With cylinder musical movement playing two airs, in grand piano-form case, with all sides, lid top and interior with full frame very fine painted enamel studies of maidens , masters and Putti in mature flowering and waterfall enriched gardens being entertained with music, red velvet panel cover to movement top, four-octave keyboard in black and white enamel, automatic snail-wheel change, on adverse conical supports and pedal mount to centre, folding lid prop.

Point of interest -

It really is a wonder just how much detail is observed on each of the enamel panels.  Each surface would have required at least one firing, with the main lip top needing up to three.  The real skill for the maker of this piece was getting the shaped side panel to fit once firing was complete.  When hot, the panel would have moved out of true so placing quickly around a mould to hold form once cooling would have been needed - without damaging the soft enamel.  Quite a feat of skill and patience.