French, 31 x 42 mm, circa 1850

An important and very rare crown shaped musical and chalcedony hardstone gold seal "a trois couleurs" with musical movement
Case: 18k gold, florally engraved, central turning pendant to wind the musical movement, oval base fitted with a chalcedony hardstone applied with a three colour gold oval panel containing musical instruments, slide in the band for activating the music. Movm.: miniature brass movement with pinned barrel and vibrating blades.

The musical movement plays the German popular tune 'Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken' , which is based on the Neapolitan canzonetta 'O cara mama mia'.
The canzonetta was a style of popular Italian secular vocal composition which originated during the Italian Renaissance.