Vintage Fred Zimbalist Hand-Etched Silver Plated Music Box - Thorens Movement
This is a dome-shaped, footed container, heavily embellished with intricate floral and scrollwork patterns. The top finial also shows detailed decorative work.
Measures: 7” (17.78 cm) x (17.78 cm)
Condition: The silver-tone metal is tarnished in places, which is typical for vintage silver or silver-plated items and adds to its charm. It has been lightly cleaned with a silver polishing cloth, but may benefit from a more thorough polish and cleaning.
The Thorens movement is in working condition and plays well.
About Fred Zimbalist Music Boxes:
Origin and Craftsmanship: Fred Zimbalist (1909-2003) founded the Zimbalist Music Box Company in Cleveland, Ohio, after World War II. He became known for his unique music boxes. Many of them, like this one, feature a nickel silver plate on brass, which was then hand-etched in India. These etching processes were quite intricate, with each piece taking approximately 3 to 4 weeks to create. A key characteristic is that no two pieces are exactly alike, making each one unique.
Assembly: Once the cases were etched in India, they were shipped to the United States, where they were fitted with the Swiss-made Thorens musical movements.
Time Period: Fred Zimbalist's company was active from the mid-1940s until its sale in 2013. This box likely dates from the mid-20th century (1940s-1970s). The combination of a Thorens movement with a Zimbalist case typically dates back to this post-WWII period.
This is a dome-shaped, footed container, heavily embellished with intricate floral and scrollwork patterns. The top finial also shows detailed decorative work.
Measures: 7” (17.78 cm) x (17.78 cm)
Condition: The silver-tone metal is tarnished in places, which is typical for vintage silver or silver-plated items and adds to its charm. It has been lightly cleaned with a silver polishing cloth, but may benefit from a more thorough polish and cleaning.
The Thorens movement is in working condition and plays well.
About Fred Zimbalist Music Boxes:
Origin and Craftsmanship: Fred Zimbalist (1909-2003) founded the Zimbalist Music Box Company in Cleveland, Ohio, after World War II. He became known for his unique music boxes. Many of them, like this one, feature a nickel silver plate on brass, which was then hand-etched in India. These etching processes were quite intricate, with each piece taking approximately 3 to 4 weeks to create. A key characteristic is that no two pieces are exactly alike, making each one unique.
Assembly: Once the cases were etched in India, they were shipped to the United States, where they were fitted with the Swiss-made Thorens musical movements.
Time Period: Fred Zimbalist's company was active from the mid-1940s until its sale in 2013. This box likely dates from the mid-20th century (1940s-1970s). The combination of a Thorens movement with a Zimbalist case typically dates back to this post-WWII period.
This is a dome-shaped, footed container, heavily embellished with intricate floral and scrollwork patterns. The top finial also shows detailed decorative work.
Measures: 7” (17.78 cm) x (17.78 cm)
Condition: The silver-tone metal is tarnished in places, which is typical for vintage silver or silver-plated items and adds to its charm. It has been lightly cleaned with a silver polishing cloth, but may benefit from a more thorough polish and cleaning.
The Thorens movement is in working condition and plays well.
About Fred Zimbalist Music Boxes:
Origin and Craftsmanship: Fred Zimbalist (1909-2003) founded the Zimbalist Music Box Company in Cleveland, Ohio, after World War II. He became known for his unique music boxes. Many of them, like this one, feature a nickel silver plate on brass, which was then hand-etched in India. These etching processes were quite intricate, with each piece taking approximately 3 to 4 weeks to create. A key characteristic is that no two pieces are exactly alike, making each one unique.
Assembly: Once the cases were etched in India, they were shipped to the United States, where they were fitted with the Swiss-made Thorens musical movements.
Time Period: Fred Zimbalist's company was active from the mid-1940s until its sale in 2013. This box likely dates from the mid-20th century (1940s-1970s). The combination of a Thorens movement with a Zimbalist case typically dates back to this post-WWII period.
