Italian Inlaid Music Box With 18 Note Swiss Reuge Movement

This item has been sold. Visit our store at Jo's Collectibles Mercantile for more music box treasures.

The Art Of Collecting

 

I think we all at one time or another have collected something.  It's been said that if you have two of anything from the same genre that you have a collection.

I began at an early age, first collecting rocks and bottle caps, I know, don't ask me then graduated to limited edition plates, figurines, dolls and music boxes.  I love art and decided that artwork created by some of my favorite artists were much more favorable to my wallet than oil paintings.  I loved my collections by Lena Liu, Gregory Perrilo and Sandra Kuck.  I marveled at the artistry of each piece and took pride in owning such beautiful art.

As I got older, however, I began to realize that I wanted a simpler lifestyle void of all collectibles other than a few special pieces.  Plus, I hate to dust.  I still collect music boxes because that is simply a passion I have yet to ignore.  Music boxes for me combines the best of both worlds, music and art.

This blog and the eBay store with the same name, Collectibles Mercantile are both simply a way for my Brother and I to shed our lifelong collections in a venue where we could make a little extra money and maybe provide a way for others to add to or begin their own collections.  Though we are shedding our collections, this blog and store are a labor of love for both of us.  We know the collectibles field and enjoy every aspect of the store, including the packing and shipping.  I personally love a challenge and there is nothing more challenging then getting a piece of glassware or ceramic out to a customer across the country or overseas and having it arrive in one piece.  We've been lucky so far.

I would love to hear your thoughts on collecting and if you do have a collection or collections let us know what you have and what you enjoy about collecting. 

When you have a chance, hop on over to our Collectibles Mercantile shop on eBay and check out our listings.  

Thank you.

Try To Remeber Music Box by Sandra Kuck for Ardleigh Elliott

Sandra Kuck is a star in the collectibles field.  Her prints, plates and music boxes have been favorites for decades.  She paints in Victorian style with an artistic emphasis on family and love.  Her delicate interpretations of everyday life along with pastel colors and design make her works of art uniquely recognizable.

She has created art for many premier producers to include the Bradford Exchange for plates and Ardleigh Elliott for music boxes.  She handpicks her much sought after lithographs and matches the painting with music to create these porcelain musical masterpieces.

This particular music box, Try To Remember launches the Sandra Kuck's lovely memories of Victorian Mothers and children on fine porcelain and matches each with wistful nostalgic music.  It's a brilliant reminder that music boxes can be works of fine art.

You can find more fine tuned details, including a clip where you can hear the music on our eBay store listing at Try To Remember.

Artist Lena Liu - Iris Quartet

Lena Liu, born in Taiwan began studying Oriental art at a very early age.  Ms. Liu combines the traditions of Oriental art brush work and her own unique style of ebb and flow to each one of her artistic masterpieces.  Iris Quartet is the perfect example of her free form style and creative talents. 

The collector's plate, Iris Quartet is the first issue in the Symphony of Shimmering Beauty collection, inspired by Lena Liu's original silk painting.  Issued in 1991 under the hallmark of W.S. George fine china this plate measures 8 1/2 inches in diameter with a 22 karat gold rim and gold highlights. The plate is numbered 11898D and was limited to 150 firing days - Bradex #84-G20-51.1  The plate comes with COA and all pertinent printed materials.

Under the hallmark of Ardleigh Elliott, the music box titled Iris Quartet was created by artist Lena Liu for the series Symphony of Shimmering Beauty.  This beautiful music box was issued in 1993 for a period of 150 firing days.  It is numbered 2406 A and employs and 18 note Japanese Sankyo movement which plays "Morning Mood" by Edvard Grieg.  The music box also comes with COA, registration card and all pertinent printed material.

Check out our Iris Quartet Listing Here.

Unchanged Melody

Music box dancer

pirouettes through darkness.

Her stage, a desolate wilderness.

Keywound compositions

through which demons sing

an ominous foreboding

she cannot escape.

The revolving performance -

a monotonous chaos.

The endless encore

she remains

day after day

never to break away.