Regina Music Box Company

• the hinged doors painted with a scene of two gentlemen in 18th century dress courting a lady, the sides with painted country scenes, the top half of cabinet containing the musical movement, the bottom half with hinged slotted compartment for disk storage • the movement with brass plate and steel teeth on double combs, speed control lever to the right • accompanied by 13 disks, each with one tune

Cabinet in overall good condition. Minor loss to the molding on both doors. Light scratches to the top edge of the base below the doors. Minimal scratches to both sides. Chip to the front left leg. Interior of the doors with light scratches, the painting to the drawer in good condition, 2 small nicks to the wood at the bottom of the drawer. Craquelure to the finish below the music bedplate. 13 disks total. Music in good working order. Accompanied by the original winding crank and 13 disks.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Until the 1880s, music boxes and players used interchangeable cylinders rotating against a toothed comb. In the late 1880s, the interchangeable music disk box was invented and started to phase out the much more large and cumbersome cylinders. The Regina Music Box Company was established in 1892 in Rahway, New Jersey, as an offshoot of the established Polyphon Musikwerke company in Leipzig, Germany. Around the turn of the century, music disk players were becoming less desirable as other methods of music listening were becoming available. The Regina Music Box Company eventually turned to making vacuum cleaners.

The present lot distinguishes itself from other music boxes made by Regina in the detail of the paintings to the case, and the large, upright cabinet. The cabinet is hand painted by a single artist, and this type of work was referred to by Regina as 'Rookwood finish.' Presented as an option in the Regina catalogue, the Rookwood finish is extremely rare, likely due to the extra labor and cost needed to produce it. Less costly examples included cases where decorations were applied by decal or inlaid wood.

The music player itself is an extremely fine and desirable short bedplate piece, with a sprocket to the outside facilitating the rotation of the 15 ½ inch disks. Most music players of the era used a single comb for playing the disks. However the present lot has a double comb which, if maintained properly such as this one, produces a much deeper, richer, and ethereal sound.

The very last of the Regina music boxes used the particular arrangement of this lot. The short bedplate extends only halfway across the width of the case and is bridged to an additional sounding board underneath it. With the additional sounding board, the sound of the upright cabinet is increased and enhanced dramatically, and the short bed plate machines are extremely sought after by collectors. Within the cabinet there is a drawer to hold the player’s selection of musical disks.