A Rare tin snuff box
Our webmaster, Bernard Novell, is a member of several music box groups on Facebook. In July 2024 he spotted a request from Stanislav, living in war torn Ukraine, asking for help to identify the tune on a small musical box movement housed in a transfer printed tin box that he’d recently purchased. Nothing unusual in that you may think. Read on ..........
Several people had seen the post before Bernard and they had already correctly identified the tune (see below), but none had read the rest of the text which was:
“Hello. Can experts guide me? When was it made? What is the name of the tune? What country was it produced in? Thanks in advance”
“Hello. Can experts guide me? When was it made? What is the name of the tune? What country was it produced in? Thanks in advance”
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"William Tell's Prayer" by Gioachino Rossini
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The tune is, “William Tell’s Prayer” from from the 1989 opera Guillaumme Tell by Gioachino Rossini, sometimes known as the “Tyrolean Waltz”.
The new owner did not realise that there is another tune that can be selected by moving the change lever. Bernard messaged him some instruction as he recognised that there was a lot more to this small box than at first meets the eye. A lengthy conversation ensued during which Bernard identified the second tune as "The Green Hills of Tyrol" transcribed by John McLoud during the crimean war taken from "La Tua Danza Is Leggier", a chorus part of the third act of Gioachino Rossini's 1829 opera Guillaumme Tell. So both tunes are by the same composer and part of the same opera!
The new owner did not realise that there is another tune that can be selected by moving the change lever. Bernard messaged him some instruction as he recognised that there was a lot more to this small box than at first meets the eye. A lengthy conversation ensued during which Bernard identified the second tune as "The Green Hills of Tyrol" transcribed by John McLoud during the crimean war taken from "La Tua Danza Is Leggier", a chorus part of the third act of Gioachino Rossini's 1829 opera Guillaumme Tell. So both tunes are by the same composer and part of the same opera!
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"La Tua Danza Is Leggier" by Gioachino Rossini
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Although there are no marks, other than the serial number 22980, the movement is almost certainly by Paillard who were based in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, and would date to between 1850 & 1880.
The comb is one piece with 72 intact teeth and the movement appears to be in an original, almost untouched, state thought there is evidence of the comb being removed (probably several times) as the screws are burred. However, all the components, including the Geneva mechanism, are intact and it runs well.
What makes this box stand out from the crowd is the fact that the tin case is oval.
The comb is one piece with 72 intact teeth and the movement appears to be in an original, almost untouched, state thought there is evidence of the comb being removed (probably several times) as the screws are burred. However, all the components, including the Geneva mechanism, are intact and it runs well.
What makes this box stand out from the crowd is the fact that the tin case is oval.
Consulting with auctioneer and Mechanical Music specialist, Laurence Fisher, it seems that this is extremely rare. Laurence has never seen an oval cased version before. Rectangular tin boxes are the norm, square are rare, there is reference to a cylindrical case that he remembers through client conversation years ago, but no mention or sign of an oval tin box anywhere. However, our Chairman, Ted Brown, says he’s seen just two, one is in the Paillard museum. One was a similar colour and the other was green. Neither had a lid constructed like this one.
Laurence has valued the box at between £1,200 to £1,600 and possibly over £2,000 at auction.
The pictorial transfer on the lid (see below) is identified as The Oratorio di Santa Maria Vergine at Stalvedro, Switzerland. It is helpful that the name appears below the image.
Laurence has valued the box at between £1,200 to £1,600 and possibly over £2,000 at auction.
The pictorial transfer on the lid (see below) is identified as The Oratorio di Santa Maria Vergine at Stalvedro, Switzerland. It is helpful that the name appears below the image.
Stanislav had already found the following on the internet. "This is a votive oratory dedicated to Mary built in 1669 and rebuilt in 1766. It is a construction with an octagonal plan. Tradition has it that during a flood, a painting of the Madonna escaped from the flooded Ticino and stopped in the place where the chapel was later built.
In 1940 it was restored and the painter Cassina painted two frescoes: the internal one represents the Madonna and Child, the external one represents those who had to protect us during the war period, that is, San Nicolao della Flüe, the artillery soldier and the two young farmers. The shingle roof dates back to 1989. Mass is celebrated on the third Sunday of September on the occasion of the Federal Thanksgiving holiday."
In 1940 it was restored and the painter Cassina painted two frescoes: the internal one represents the Madonna and Child, the external one represents those who had to protect us during the war period, that is, San Nicolao della Flüe, the artillery soldier and the two young farmers. The shingle roof dates back to 1989. Mass is celebrated on the third Sunday of September on the occasion of the Federal Thanksgiving holiday."
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It is both fitting and commonplace to note that when a building, view or landscape shown in transfer on one of these boxes is identified, the scene today has rarely changed at all – such is the case here. How wonderful!
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Some more images of the box. Click to enlarge.
