Copper wedding anniversary gifts mother of pearl and abalone 1950s musical powder box
This musical powder box is adorned with mother of pearl and made from high copper content brass and so it is an ideal pearl or copper wedding anniversary gift.
An adorable 1940s musical powder box that has not been used to store face powder. This music box is in excellent condition complete the original accessories - the original label stating it plays The Anniversary Song, the puff & sifter. The music box has a lid decorated with high quality mother of pearl & abalone. The lid is superb - a beautiful monochrome iridescent adornment! The music box is very sound and plays very well. Read on for the history of the tune. The interior case is satinized and lacquered. The inner lid is decorated with engraved musical notes. The bevelled mirror is excellent and gives an accurate reflection. Next to the mirror is a frame with a bevelled edge for the insertion of a photograph. Normally brass is made up of 95% copper however this music box has a higher composition than this and has the appearance of copper. The base has an engine turned design of vertical lines.
This adorable musical powder box measures 8.1 cm x 6.3 cm & weighs 193.9 grams.
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The Anniversary Song:
The Jolson Story is a 1946 Technicolor musical biography which is said to tell the life story of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (who is cast as Jolson's wife - Ruby Keeler), William Demarest as his manager,Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne as his parents, and Scotty Beckett as the young Jolson.
During a performance American burlesque performer Steve Martin offers to play a song for his audience, if they agree to sing with him. Only one person does sing, a young boy Asa Yoelson. Steve Martin is bowled over by Asa's voice. Asa realizes to his shame that he should be singing at the synagogue with his father. Asa arrives late, and is later reprimanded by his strict father & Asa dare not say where he has been. Steve Martin visits Asa's home & asks his parents if they will let him perform on stage. Papa Yoelson refuses & so Asa runs away to Baltimore where he is taken care of by Father McGee, the superintendent of the boys home. Asa's parents come to collect him & he says he will keep on running away unless he is allowed to go on the stage. As his voice breaks he becomes more determined to try different styles of singing & then he saw Tom Baron, a blackface entertainer who passes out. Asa as Al Jolson (his new persona) goes on stage to fill in for Baron. Oscar Hammerstein & Lew Dockstader are in the audience & his hired for Dockstader's minstrel show. One night Al hears the new jazz sound & forgets about his gig. He is fired by Dockstader.
Al goes to visit his parents & he is called by Tom Baron who is now a theatrical manager. He invites Al to join his Broadway show. Al insists on choosing his own songs, including the very famous 'Mammy'.
Eventually his popularity ensures he is the lead singer. At one of these shows he meets Julie Benson, played by Evelyn Keyes - this character was modelled on his wife Ruby Keeler & he falls in love with her immediately. After a few hours of meeting her he proposes & she accepts. But 'Julie' hates show business & wants him to give up the way of life. Eventually Al does this & they settled down to live in the countryside. Al refuses all job offers but one night when his parents are visiting him & Papa persuades him to sing The Anniversary Song as it is Papa & Mama Yoelson's anniversary. Then together with Tom Baron the group go to a night club. Al is reluctant as he fears he will be recognized. This does happen - the band leader & the crowd insist on Al singing. Julie walks out during the performance & out of his life as she feels she is preventing him from doing what makes him truly happy.
That is the story behind this adorable musical powder box.
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