RetroChalet Vintage Shop on Etsy, curator of everything tacky, wacky, and retro is hosting a giveaway for a vintage-styled Italian Sorrento musical ring box. The lovely box plays "Blue Danube". Entries are open to US and non US residents, and are being taken until February 14, 2012 at midnight EST. I am not sure what's most exciting, the fact she has found a way to offer unlimited entries based on social networking and sharing options or the history of these types of music boxes. Although the one "up for grabs" is probably mid 1990's, these boxes have a big history!
History of Sorrento Italian Inlaid Music Boxes:
These Sorrento Italian Music boxes have been hand crafted for many years in a small town averaging 16,500 people or less in the region of Campania, Italy (close to Naples). The art of Italian Woodworking has been handed down from generation to generation, in conjunction with Swiss movements dating back to the 1800's. Careful inlaying and heavy shellac have made these Italian boxes "the box to have" for centuries! Some are brought back from people visiting Naples or surrounding areas. Others are imported in, even to this day. Older boxes with many notes may be worth upwards of $50,000, one even retailing for $90,000! They are extremely collectible and most are unique. No two are exactly alike, although they may resemble one another. Most are musical with Swiss Reuge movements, and there are many sizes available. Today, they are still being imported and sold in high end gift shops, in the $100-$500 range. Collectors buy and sell them on sites like Etsy, and Ebay.
Collectors of Sorrento Music Box Value Notes:
The ones with Swiss Musical Movements (Swiss Made Romance mechanical movement by Reuge) are worth more, and will retain value higher than the Made-in-Japan musical movements.
The ones with more movement aka "notes" will be worth more, so in essence, the more complex the movement, the more value in the box. (This one below is 18 notes, but some have as many as 50 notes!) FACT: To put a 50-note Swiss Musical Reuge movement in a box today retails for $995.00 and the less I could find it for was $400 ! that's just for the movement , not the box!
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| This box is probably circa 1995 due to the identification sticker of the importer. |
It's safe to say this lovely little Ring box, can almost fit in your hand. It has a pretty inlaid violin would make a great wedding gift or special collectible that will no doubt just double, or triple in value over the years. Find out how to enter on this blog.
Posted by Ira Mency
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