Listen and Learn: The Art of Making Music By Reuge

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=0d650ffe-1ec7-4395-883b-24e806d21a65&type=website"></script><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLMFaA5urQVfQGPPe2DVUDabxnqmkz5Oya5BqmtPMPIbGZIfyIDCa2_BdBQjPkV6m79YWisb_9XGqVR8_BYMnoE7cLwRF2-5UsTvNUkjdBiOh2iphByfbxFQTyjvJ4dK7MKePLCvKtSyQ/s1600-h/factory.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027154841797562802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLMFaA5urQVfQGPPe2DVUDabxnqmkz5Oya5BqmtPMPIbGZIfyIDCa2_BdBQjPkV6m79YWisb_9XGqVR8_BYMnoE7cLwRF2-5UsTvNUkjdBiOh2iphByfbxFQTyjvJ4dK7MKePLCvKtSyQ/s400/factory.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 523px; height: 515px;" /></a><br /><i> <span style="font-size:85%;">above:the Reuge factory in Switzerland</span></i><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br />I came across <a href="http://www.reuge.com/">this company's site</a> awhile ago. I can't recall what I was searching for, but I can assure you it wasn't music boxes. I've never fancied myself a music box sort of girl. Although I enjoy classical music (which most music boxes play) I've never considered buying myself a music box, let alone invest in one. But <a href="http://www.reuge.com/">Reuge and their informative and impressive website</a> has changed my mind. Once I landed on their page with it's austere and mechanical logo and the clean layout, I started clicking around.<br /><br />Much to my enjoyment I found that I had stumbled upon not only 'art' but 'music'. Their music boxes (and that word does not do them justice) range from the traditional, elegant bird-in-the-cage-a-la-french-antiques type to black carbon and stainless steel music boxes that would make any modern maven sing with delight.<br /><br />Magic Forest Singing Bird Automaton Music Box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCWkesBUlMNHXZTyKNhv_RVrRS8Ei5MCAlMomiPs6eYk6yqntJWrNYfishJVSAOYBS-JqD5GNI6ydsS-o0CW25B9-6ys8_ofS_yJyg7znzKvDfPYiJeRqIazg7KHExVRPue5G0oPZfoSJ/s1600-h/Magic_Forest_black.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027154231912206754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCWkesBUlMNHXZTyKNhv_RVrRS8Ei5MCAlMomiPs6eYk6yqntJWrNYfishJVSAOYBS-JqD5GNI6ydsS-o0CW25B9-6ys8_ofS_yJyg7znzKvDfPYiJeRqIazg7KHExVRPue5G0oPZfoSJ/s400/Magic_Forest_black.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 528px; height: 505px;" /></a><br />Volière de la Cour Singing Bird Automaton Music Box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6y8uIIrelAtUqbqcU7ifNHXW6inYHg3g1DW0kZrXhEO8erLYyfZwy93xZbYg1C8QMyOZJTjKy5GTpmc9wSz1VbWAShMf8xY4vs_qvdNXKyGK00w2L_my7WT1NNe47m_IMVnO5juj4JakD/s1600-h/AXO907005002.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027126842905760034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6y8uIIrelAtUqbqcU7ifNHXW6inYHg3g1DW0kZrXhEO8erLYyfZwy93xZbYg1C8QMyOZJTjKy5GTpmc9wSz1VbWAShMf8xY4vs_qvdNXKyGK00w2L_my7WT1NNe47m_IMVnO5juj4JakD/s400/AXO907005002.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 527px; height: 491px;" /></a><br />Singing Bird Alarm clock:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuqQVlnwXGKt1Np2y-I0PpwaJLeV878PhC7flNqQv2zp812WSmBt7JiBj9V7K5QH_6OOoNtPvbpa5gJ6rKz_IeUiYWZcLvR5dqbZmyeKCfJXdjrj5vaE_o2XaO4yxVNqUBy2QVh0zPiO2/s1600-h/Francastel-teracota---AXT.9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027127826453270882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuqQVlnwXGKt1Np2y-I0PpwaJLeV878PhC7flNqQv2zp812WSmBt7JiBj9V7K5QH_6OOoNtPvbpa5gJ6rKz_IeUiYWZcLvR5dqbZmyeKCfJXdjrj5vaE_o2XaO4yxVNqUBy2QVh0zPiO2/s400/Francastel-teracota---AXT.9.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 526px; height: 506px;" /></a><br />The Reverse Music Box in Mahogany:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharyPsoKwS2Ydu4MN65hC29PWzS1oVBV7T_1nP7OgT6XnV2nIrTDvCgecITi_9IWCACNHJk0kUSHA_81EsavbVBq0ENM2CSarXiyP71VB6R8BtFcFOZy2OS9Zi_35mMTkNm3LbtL7NZWMc/s1600-h/AXA.72.5830.001.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027126976049746226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharyPsoKwS2Ydu4MN65hC29PWzS1oVBV7T_1nP7OgT6XnV2nIrTDvCgecITi_9IWCACNHJk0kUSHA_81EsavbVBq0ENM2CSarXiyP71VB6R8BtFcFOZy2OS9Zi_35mMTkNm3LbtL7NZWMc/s400/AXA.72.5830.001.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 487px;" /></a><br />The Reverse in white:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB_IFVdDO3dkmO48G8XnaRGA6sXRhxja2zgqiy5vN3NlIbFGQLR3yv4sz9vLY9LRCG07UpBcK90A1zU1iNiwWcIRv1yYVV9s0uPdpN1l79Np_P__9LecMXJwoG5AF2a_VjWkL_1B-GYJ4/s1600-h/Reverse-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027157423072907746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB_IFVdDO3dkmO48G8XnaRGA6sXRhxja2zgqiy5vN3NlIbFGQLR3yv4sz9vLY9LRCG07UpBcK90A1zU1iNiwWcIRv1yYVV9s0uPdpN1l79Np_P__9LecMXJwoG5AF2a_VjWkL_1B-GYJ4/s400/Reverse-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 526px; height: 503px;" /></a><br /><br />And their lovely melodies are there for you to listen on their site! Multiple options for each piece are playable with just the click of a mouse.<br /><br />The Arche music box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup0062h-6k9S9GVmmtxFeCtlX_mW1RQzMRfq3jsfodfK_xBGLwv-MYLdbxkKYF4a1lq3-aB0ukqhuly61xXlH5MYfGf5DXIF3Ll94MpGWr9AswzRsyPqRf0VUMhWeI6lgWIU7Yv3F_7z2/s1600-h/Arche_.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027127272402489666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup0062h-6k9S9GVmmtxFeCtlX_mW1RQzMRfq3jsfodfK_xBGLwv-MYLdbxkKYF4a1lq3-aB0ukqhuly61xXlH5MYfGf5DXIF3Ll94MpGWr9AswzRsyPqRf0VUMhWeI6lgWIU7Yv3F_7z2/s400/Arche_.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 524px; height: 485px;" /></a><br />Burl wood music box with drawer to hold pens:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcrJlb0mOjAfxpqyQq8-JEoo3Dglet_Sk-uycaq45CE3t6jLMk6BArB16DtP6TDhPj_TDxhKuKbjzSXViyQsubejZi7cifJj8z7IjU4l7tQGbUo7aeyzeUmJnhiuzYPuOaSxjxCCaeUZ1/s1600-h/Capella.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027128152870785394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcrJlb0mOjAfxpqyQq8-JEoo3Dglet_Sk-uycaq45CE3t6jLMk6BArB16DtP6TDhPj_TDxhKuKbjzSXViyQsubejZi7cifJj8z7IjU4l7tQGbUo7aeyzeUmJnhiuzYPuOaSxjxCCaeUZ1/s400/Capella.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 523px; height: 496px;" /></a><br />The Francastel music box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM5v1rbkXYg44gVb70qWmQ_UzXb9MxxhozyxPcl3FYWMEwdpieH8PdCUwSVOgFibtg-XBHHixOKBushMcwOBMd0KZmz1Paw5UDQHrjL3STmFor-E8bv4UXjYVDIqFNnTh93aizIsuGcSp/s1600-h/Boa%C2%A6%C3%A8te-Francastel---AXA.72.5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027155902654484946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM5v1rbkXYg44gVb70qWmQ_UzXb9MxxhozyxPcl3FYWMEwdpieH8PdCUwSVOgFibtg-XBHHixOKBushMcwOBMd0KZmz1Paw5UDQHrjL3STmFor-E8bv4UXjYVDIqFNnTh93aizIsuGcSp/s400/Boa%C2%A6%C3%A8te-Francastel---AXA.72.5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 524px; height: 501px;" /></a><br /><br />They use every material you can imagine, from exotic woods to glass and enamels, and each is crafted by hand.<br /><br />With music boxes containing sets of 16, 36 and 72 notes as well as ones that double as candle holders and incense burners.<br /><br /><br />The Music Box votive holder, Ambiente:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazBZxWvL24ELP4GXbgWwjyQZq1GIsQOMnKzfJbYGSUNa9gTGvT_yjwpiNMTdxtgyCMfNvaErsFIrVJQGGliPbSAaLXbGYcZ2XnxCLRFrAN7hOBVe3WaGnA8nqnlWlx8bGR5MDDUlw0X0T/s1600-h/Ambiente.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027128466403398018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazBZxWvL24ELP4GXbgWwjyQZq1GIsQOMnKzfJbYGSUNa9gTGvT_yjwpiNMTdxtgyCMfNvaErsFIrVJQGGliPbSAaLXbGYcZ2XnxCLRFrAN7hOBVe3WaGnA8nqnlWlx8bGR5MDDUlw0X0T/s400/Ambiente.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 486px;" /></a><br />Music Box incense holder<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9JuBeJKZHdvQ53P0wPS2TuPBJKCpDEjkmYy7mjKVKshuqdNwwq7UbgNUti_6Da_6u_Ed9JKaoGa13fmIXmt4d60lCbBeFEhF55oKVIrbSFYZIMWf8reDHMoGskssDAOB8-ffNYxfY5FO/s1600-h/AXA.36.5362.000.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027126456358703378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9JuBeJKZHdvQ53P0wPS2TuPBJKCpDEjkmYy7mjKVKshuqdNwwq7UbgNUti_6Da_6u_Ed9JKaoGa13fmIXmt4d60lCbBeFEhF55oKVIrbSFYZIMWf8reDHMoGskssDAOB8-ffNYxfY5FO/s400/AXA.36.5362.000.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 488px;" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so I was really impressed with their designs and array of offerings. But that was only half of it.<a href="http://www.reuge.com/"> Reuge</a> (whose tagline is appropriately 'the art of mechanical music') has developed an unusually informative website. They have a time line of the history of music boxes, written in a digestible manner and not overwhelmingly pedantic.<br /><br />They go into intense detail of every step of production (a lot goes into a music box!). They make it easy to browse through their products with rollover titles and nice large clean imagery. They have a wonderful section on craftsmanship with detailed images, down to applying a feather on a bird.<br /><br />It's a rare product inventory indeed, but equally rare is a site that's such a pleasure to explore.<br /><br />Singing Bird Poem music box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIotUlt40j2ojSfSaWtNYWlJb8AptaDNFb3g0BS9_6vjRqaA4EBk-dBSXW5NIntJ_0qaXdgG_q9yagZqXsKz5qO9Z2Y8sWFcKiDmYotn0wxhu7HXOVifHrfMjx3VLjobFnr3FdqEeZN4jm/s1600-h/Saint-John-Perse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027158612778848754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIotUlt40j2ojSfSaWtNYWlJb8AptaDNFb3g0BS9_6vjRqaA4EBk-dBSXW5NIntJ_0qaXdgG_q9yagZqXsKz5qO9Z2Y8sWFcKiDmYotn0wxhu7HXOVifHrfMjx3VLjobFnr3FdqEeZN4jm/s400/Saint-John-Perse.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 526px; height: 503px;" /></a><br />Singing bird Sweetheart music box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl5e3JHNaBQZ5AAegn0ZNZRuJ62JM5UhPvMpv_ZVXlDpQt0u-7Q7rKB22xq7FC6zElY5ZpQa-s3frlWJ9VKEcd8Z5-hvc_AXx-0y9BPQzmQ1AmUgrKT4ytLY0EbQRmNpokMSTUph2HIyC/s1600-h/Sweetheart_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027155602006774210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl5e3JHNaBQZ5AAegn0ZNZRuJ62JM5UhPvMpv_ZVXlDpQt0u-7Q7rKB22xq7FC6zElY5ZpQa-s3frlWJ9VKEcd8Z5-hvc_AXx-0y9BPQzmQ1AmUgrKT4ytLY0EbQRmNpokMSTUph2HIyC/s400/Sweetheart_.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 507px;" /></a><br />Singing Bird Black Tie Music Box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2K27_zvd1xqu_g5Jqr0-UDoEuazn4WPX5u9QXu9RMYvogyTfm7RkuD-d4z2qaWbg5Bibff1SVpuROPpDbtJUW0HqJYPRG4yhandb0YAFaYNLseMoKHxmm5cBt9CescgiDpa5Tt-9EX5F/s1600-h/BlackTie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027127547280396626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2K27_zvd1xqu_g5Jqr0-UDoEuazn4WPX5u9QXu9RMYvogyTfm7RkuD-d4z2qaWbg5Bibff1SVpuROPpDbtJUW0HqJYPRG4yhandb0YAFaYNLseMoKHxmm5cBt9CescgiDpa5Tt-9EX5F/s400/BlackTie.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 532px; height: 491px;" /></a><br />Wood art deco music box:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6BHCPWnxzOxPbQ3AcUrt4HjdAoEInjkRE-V95WoQH09Rc6JQwv-EHUNT4D6YxVhIHyex6iO2oyxIf4bXce5UqFl726PaVs_XFSAGAxiNrbHsL_Xo7lJavAKzpPbNC1UO3yF8CpmBcv17/s1600-h/Wiener_Wetkstaetter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027130656836718994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6BHCPWnxzOxPbQ3AcUrt4HjdAoEInjkRE-V95WoQH09Rc6JQwv-EHUNT4D6YxVhIHyex6iO2oyxIf4bXce5UqFl726PaVs_XFSAGAxiNrbHsL_Xo7lJavAKzpPbNC1UO3yF8CpmBcv17/s400/Wiener_Wetkstaetter.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 530px; height: 490px;" /></a><br /><br />Wanna really be impressed? Check out the FAQ link and you'll not only see every question a possible interested party or owner could have, but the numbers of people who have accessed that very question.<br /><br />Suffice it to say, these products aren't cheap. And, as one would expect from master craftsmen they offer owner upkeep and a two year guarantee (with limitations). Even limited editions and custom designs are available. It is truly an art.<br /><br />Which is why, at the beginning of this article, I said 'invest' in a music box. But from what I see and hear, it's a pretty wise investment.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnEbiVp7q4xxhppjlGaWvREk8NAHSWTjFW9xN34zUdROrlKTm1trHh1avxWa2GBbZmDZDAJsK2LomTEN49bKFiHvSapiEs9Q1eohhpwzM3HOnHRa1wJNrC_BjCFbtk9ry-Ya6knoLlT0/s1600/REUGE+gris.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500150961362690594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnEbiVp7q4xxhppjlGaWvREk8NAHSWTjFW9xN34zUdROrlKTm1trHh1avxWa2GBbZmDZDAJsK2LomTEN49bKFiHvSapiEs9Q1eohhpwzM3HOnHRa1wJNrC_BjCFbtk9ry-Ya6knoLlT0/s400/REUGE+gris.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 538px; height: 103px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.reuge.com/" style="font-family: arial;"><br />Click here and see for yourself.</a>

Listen and Learn: The Art of Making Music By Reuge

above:the Reuge factory in Switzerland I came across this company's site awhile ago. I can't recall what I was searching for, but ...

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