Music Boxes - A Magical History

By Suzann Kale

Flanders in the 1300s was a broad, sometimes borderless region, in and about where France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are today. And for many, the colorful history of Flanders conjures up images of flourishing art, busy trading ports, Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, and exquisite wool for weaving.

And then there was this bell ringer. Bell ringing was not new, but this particular musician had the idea to make the notes operate mechanically. He placed tiny pins onto a metal cylinder at points that would produce specific notes as they were turned and struck the bells.

It would be another 400 years before this mechanized music would capture the fancy of the Jaquet-Droz brothers of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Originally clockmakers, they designed the world's first mechanical singing birds. Fascinated by these beautiful little treasures, people around the world "had to have them."

But the "bell" concept had to be modernized in order to expand the number of notes and octaves, and to allow for a "box" to contain the mechanics allowing for more than one tune.

It was Switzerland, again, that was home to the breakthrough in music box mechanics. Antoine Favre of Geneva, in 1796, replaced the bells altogether. Instead, he used pre-tuned metal strips, which allowed for more music to come out of one box. And because Favre came from a watch-making background, his metal strips allowed for the mechanism to be smaller, and the sound to be more pitch-accurate. He also added an on/off switch.

Fast forward to 1811, and we're still in Switzerland. The watch and the music box were being combined into a musical pocket watch. But inventor Alix Gueissaz of Sainte-Croix stuck with the pure music box idea, and started a company to make and market only music boxes.

As the boxes themselves became part of the package, they became works of art themselves. They were ornate and simple, themed, carved, painted, and came in all sizes. The music, too, was evolving into sounds of instruments, often in harmonies. The mechanics were taking flight, as some of the boxes became spring-wound - first using a key, and later using a lever spring winder. This also meant that tunes could be played in their entirety without "winding down."

People's imaginations soared, and in the late 1800s, you could find music boxes adorned with dancing ballerinas, singing birds flapping their wings, swirling couples in love, and all kinds of ponies, lions, cats, and dogs, dancing atop the boxes.

Today, there is a music box in any size, theme, and style you can possibly imagine. The Darci Musical Jewelry Box plays "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" and is a perfect gift for a young girl. The Carousel Dream Merry-Go-Round is a 10-inch tall precious fantasy with three moving horses that plays the song "Once Upon a Dream."

And you can find boxes that allow you to pre-select your own songs! The hand-crafted Dove on Light Blue Music Box is an elegant jewelry box with a flying dove holding a golden ribbon painted on the top. You can pick a tune before buying it, making it a perfect personalized gift for someone very special.

From formal (The Heart Inlay Round Music Box) to themed (the Healing Touch Music Box celebrates nurses), from Winnie the Pooh to picture-framed boxes, you can find music boxes today for every gift-giving occasion - birthdays, milestones, graduations, wedding gifts, "thinking of you" mementos - there's just no limit.

All of the music boxes mentioned here, plus hundreds more, are available through Treasure Rocket, or at any mall or specialized gift shop. Just window shopping (or web window shopping!) can be a magical experience.

A graduate of Northwestern University, Suzann's articles have appeared in national magazines and on the web. She's currently working with the project developer at the online store, Treasure Rocket - http://www.treasurerocket.com