Musical box

Rectangular case, the front and sides veneered with rosewood, crossbanded with tulipwood and bordered with a light wood stringing. Back veneered with plain rosewood. Case front decorated with applied ormolu escutcheon in form of a grotesque head surrounded by scrolling foliage. Lid also veneered with rosewood, crossbanded with tulipwood, bordered with a light wood stringing, and inlaid with central cartouche of winged cherub blowing a horn, in pale and stained fruitwoods. Interior of case ebonised. Cylinder and comb, with ratcheted lever-winding mechanism on left-hand side and stop/start levers on right. Geneva stopwork mechanism missing from barrel. Speed governed by worm-driven fly (damaged). Silver-plated zither attachment, its control lever set in silver-plated lyre-shaped mount. Nine engraved bells, four of them struck by hammers in the form of gilt metal wasps or bees, the others by plain hammers. Glass cover. Plays 12 tunes from various operas, described on paper tune-sheet attached to underside of lid, printed with the British Royal Arms, believed to be the trademark of George Bendon & Co., London, importers of Swiss musical boxes. Case raised on four ebonised corner feet.