Lot 103

C. 1894-1900 Regina Mahogany Upright Music Box

Estimate: $18,000 - $28,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
This is an outstanding original circa 1894-1900 mahogany upright 27-inch coin operated Regina Music Box in fantastic working condition. The box exhibits a high-quality hand carved solid mahogany wood case with large crown trim being deeply hand carved with shell like Victorian pattern crest front piece, raised panels, turned finials, carved columns, deep spoon carved corbels and trim, amongst other amazing high craftsmanship finishes. The top of the case is locked by the original brass skeleton key which opens the original antique glass door exposing the fantastic upright music box mechanism marked REGINA as well as the serial number 21041. In front of the REGINA music box mechanism is the 27-inch Regina disc which is marked, “Copyrighted by the Regina Music Box Co. 1896 / Regina Trade Mark / The Washington Post March, Sousa. 4026 / U.S. Patents No. 500370 To . 500374 . Dated . June . 27, 1893”. Below the upright music box is the pull out door disc bin with heavy cast brass handle which allows the storage of many 27-inch round discs. Reeded, fluted and carved turned full wood columns decorate the front of the cabinet as well as along the base which rest upon four rolling feet. The double comb Regina movement is in superb running condition, the user turns the large solid brass and wood handle on the side which immediately actuates the mechanism turning the disc and playing beautiful music. Upon the top is a hinged door which opens allowing for the music to be heard better. This is truly an outstanding music box and one of the higher finishes of any Regina Upright Music Box brought to public sale. In very good well-preserved condition with no obvious damages and very good working order, appearing to be complete. The Regina Music Box Company’s story began in Gohis, Germany in 1885 at the Symphonian music box Co. when the disc playing music box was introduced, later splitting off by two employees, Gustave Brachhausen and Paul Reissner in 1889 being called Polyphon in Leipzig. Tariffs on imported goods in the United States, enacted in 1890 made it more cost effective for the company to setup shop in the U.S., so in 1894 Brachhausen officially inaugurated The Regina Music Box Company. Regina upright music boxes are highly collectible with some examples selling at auction in excess of $60,000, such as the Regina Corona from RM Sotheby’s in 2012. Good well-preserved condition, good working order. This example shows the disc drawer and a higher finish, being of higher collectibility than most others of similar model on the market. Provenance: From a large Big Sky, Montana estate where the piece was found to be worth $30,000 by Souhantq, Southampton Antiquities, per the seller. Measures