French Necessaire Piano Shaped Sewing Kit and Music Box

This French necessaire is both charming and practical. Crafted in mahogany and shaped like a piano, this “necessary” accessory  held essential sewing items. Lift the mirrored piano lid to reveal the velvet spaces these items once occupied. But they now, unfortunately, have been lost over time.

Hidden beneath the sewing item receptacles is a rare, small key wind cylinder music mechanism. It represents very early automated music technology and would have been quite an expensive luxury. Full size cylinder music boxes were in their infancy at this time. Creating a miniature version for a more commonplace purpose such as this was an extravagance.

6″ High x 7 1/2″ Wide x 11 1/2″ Deep

Circa 1850

SOLD