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Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 6:59 am
by Lampman5
Any ideas why this music cabinet would have a glass display area on the top? I believe it was originally for sheet music but thought the glassed in area might have been used for a small phonograph or music box but that is just a guess. Thanks
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 9:41 am
by JerryVan
Why do you believe it's a music cabinet? Don't get me wrong. I don't know that it isn't, but I don't see anything that suggests to me that it is.
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 10:47 am
by poodling around
Probably a ridiculous suggestion, but this reminds me of an automaton fortune telling cabinet ?
Maybe later added to, to alter it's purpose ?
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/lot-280877.aspx
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 1:18 pm
by Lampman5
All the music cabinets that I have come across over the years have those flat pull out shelves like this one to hold the sheet music. Not sure if the "curio" glass top portion is just for nick knacks or when advertised new it had another purpose. Steve
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 1:42 pm
by JerryVan
Lampman5 wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 1:18 pm
All the music cabinets that I have come across over the years have those flat pull out shelves like this one to hold the sheet music. Not sure if the "curio" glass top portion is just for nick knacks or when advertised new it had another purpose. Steve
I guess it could have been something of a "combo" unit. Is there any evidence that there were shelves in the upper half? Kind of a large, empty space otherwise.
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 4:06 pm
by KCW
Any way you slice it, it’s awesome. Great find. I can think of tons of uses for it!
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 4:25 pm
by drh
A cabinet of similar design is here:
https://www.woodennickelantiques.net/pr ... c-cabinet/
Another along the same lines, billed as a "music curio cabinet," is here:
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ ... Ht1dz5ANaG
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 5:03 pm
by Lampman5
Thanks for the links. Mine has not been modified, no holes drilled etc. Much appreciated.
Re: Unusual Music Cabinet
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 5:20 pm
by ChesterCheetah18
Back then, it was common practice to place busts of famous composers (Bach, Chopin, Brahms etc.) on one’s piano. Perhaps this was one intended purpose?
Steve