A rare silver, gold and enamel musical necessaire formed as an upright piano, the movement Vacheron Constantin, Geneva, second quarter 19th century

the case formed as an upright piano or orgue expressif on four legs with ball supports, a hinged lid applied with stylised gold scrolling foliage and lifting to reveal the enamelled keys below a neo-gothic panel ornamented in gold and enamel to simulate a stained glass church window, this in turn opening to show a plush and silk-lined compartment complete with gold and steel scissors, gold and hardstone thimble, gold needlecase, and mother of pearl spool, the interior containing a musical movement with a 6.5cm cylinder playing 2 airs on a sectional comb, struck with maker's mark VC for Vacheron Constantin and numbered: 5989, the case apparently unmarked, with later key
16 cm., 6 1/4 in. high