TATTLE
IN THE WHITEWASHED mountains
of Switzerland, late in the 18th century, a winter of assiduous watchmaker’s
hands shaped the elegant, nuanced ancestor to the mp3 player. A
music box shares none of the digital slick proffered by a slim, luxuriously
customized play list, which is why the soulful, exacting creations of Reuge
have such resonance. Versions of the music box existed before Antoine
Favre’s improved gadget in 1796, yet his streamlined rendition introduced
a metal comb with pre-tuned metallic notes, revolutionizing the depth and
control of sound. Various incarnations followed, and so was the advent of
For the 40 artisans working in the Reuge studio, knowledge of the craft
an astoundingly complex craft.
is generational, where the handmade element is preserved and not rushed.
The Imperia, a large standing music box, takes six months to create. “While To open a Reuge music box and observe its mechanics is a like a visual
the design might sometimes use computer technology,” Kupper relays, “the distillation of every crowded venue, every grand orchestra hall and pulsating
creative part is done by imagination, taste and emotion. The melody is still stage, as it brings one closer to the seductive physicality of music. Reuge is
created as it was in 1865–by listening and re-arranging, by the hand and the only company still producing music boxes and singing birds, a legacy
mind of a skilled musician.” that has been a patient witness to nearly every other recorded format for
listening. The beauty in each piece may be its awareness that music is
Classical works are expected—Mozart, Chopin, Tchaïkovsky, Puccini—
and the 1865 collection complements the Reuge heritage (Baroque, nostalgia, arousing intimate memories and emotions, and the insistence that
Classicisme, Renaissance) with traditional shapes of dark, rich wood at this level, such personal compositions cannot be treated as background
inlay and time-honored details. The Studio and Lounge series are sassier, noise. CEO Kurt Kupper describes it simply: “Listen to a music box, close
your eyes…you will understand.”
contemporary accompaniments, their designs in high-concept free-fall with
works in glass, metal, enamel, leather and steel. The Winch model, for
example, is a handsome contoured boat, featuring a carbon sail. Undeniably
bespoke, Reuge has fashioned custom pieces playing The Clash and Pink
Floyd, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and ABBA, recreating national
anthems and rap songs—though slightly more challenging technically—for
clients seeking their own handcrafted music libraries.
Limitless and inventive, the company has also engaged in elaborate
collaborations with notable names, and often visits the glamorous provinces
of luxury brands like Boucheron, Mercedes, Harry Winston, Ferrari, as well
as special commissions for boutique hotels.
Awe must be reserved for Reuge’s singing bird creations. A resplendent
little creature dressed in a rainbow of feathers that are individually placed by
the hand of one specialist, the bird is profoundly impressive. Synchronized,
beak open while singing, a harmony of nature and precision for private
enjoyment—the singing bird is a captivating reminder of artistry in a glaze
of technology. “With a music box you create a heritage, an heirloom, but
not one which we feel an obligation to have,” says Kupper, “but one that
keeps a positive memory.” n Arianne Nardo Reuge SA, Rue des Rasses
26
26, Sainte-Croix, Switzerland + 41 24 455 22 22 reuge.com, to view, OC
Concept Store, occonceptstore.com
