Beschreibung:

Jean & Pierre Bellin, Paris "The Magical Musical Automaton Toy Cabinet" A STUNNING AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE YELLOW GOLD, DIAMOND, RUBY, EMERALD, SAPPHIRE, MOTHER-OF-PEARL, ROSE QUARTZ, MULTI-COLORED HARDSTONE AND ENAMEL SET MUSICAL TOY CABINET WITH SIX AUTOMATA, OF EXHIBITION QUALITY CIRCA 1990 MAKER STAMP FOR J&B, FRENCH GOLD HALLMARKED • the outer case: large 18k yellow gold case set with mother-of-pearl decoration throughout, the two front doors depicting a musical theme containing a lute, french horn, harp and drum, decorated with multi-colored enamel in high relief, over a mother-of-pearl musical score with applied gold clefs and notes, embellished with carved green and blue chalcedony foliage and rose quartz flowers, accentuated by gold and diamond and sapphire berries, below with an enamel drum and sticks with carved chalcedony decoration, the arched top with an abundance of carved chalcedony, gold and diamond flowers and berries, green curved partial dome with textured gold sculptured flower in high relief, all borders set with brilliant-cut diamonds, each side panel set with carved chalcedony and rose quartz flowers and foliage, centered by a gold and enamel stringed instrument, the back of mother-of-pearl and accented by two round sapphires, two rubies and three emeralds, near the base a floral-shaped aperture to insert the electrical connection to work the musical mechanism • the inside: the hinged doors opening to reveal a multitude of iconic characters and toys, in the center is a yellow gold, enamel and diamond set drum with a moving top surmounted by an additional revolving sculpture of Alice in Wonderland, her dress finely enameled and set with diamonds, also revolving on a different axis is a gold sculpture of the White Rabbit with rubies set throughout his overcoat, to the base of the drum is a revolving train moving on its tracks and pulling three carriages each containing either ruby, sapphire or emerald stones, the whole scene resting on two translucent enamel books, one entitled Alice in Wonderland, the other Peter Pan, above the scene is a gold and multi-gem-set pierced gold sun hat, to one side in the top compartment is a gold, enamel sculptured model of Pinocchio, the middle compartment holds a gold and enamel spinning top, the compartment below contains a gold, enamel and diamond-set vintage car, on the opposite side the top compartment contains gold and enamel building blocks, the middle compartment contains a multi-colored enamel and gold hot air balloon that also revolves to the music, the compartment below contains the gold and multi-colored enamel Punch and Judy theater scene, the lower half of the central box consisting of six mother-of-pearl inlaid simulated drawers, each with diamond-set borders, the handles each with either applied sapphire, emerald or ruby, the top right hand drawer opens to activate and stop the musical and automaton mechanism • inside the left-hand door: the top compartment contains a gold, enamel, diamond and mother-of-pearl sailing yacht, to one side a gold, enamel Beefeater soldier standing to attention, the compartment below contains a gold, enamel and diamond-set steam locomotive, further below contains a rock crystal, diamond-set cat holding a malachite ball of yarn, to the right a gold sculptured artist palette and paintbrush, the bottom compartment contains a gold, diamond, ruby and enamel rocking horse, behind it is a malachite, mother-of-pearl checkers board • the inside right door: the top compartment contains two-color gold, diamond and enamel castle with opening / closing hinged drawbridge, below is a gold, enamel and chalcedony clown's mask, to one side a gold, enamel and diamond-set bow and arrow-filled quiver, below is a finely sculptured rock crystal teddy bear, placed behind is a gold and enamel badminton racket with shuttle cock, the final compartment below contains an exquisite gold, enamel, diamond and multi-colored hardstone set of croquet mallets, fini