| Sorrento is a small town in Campania, Italy, with | | | | trained by their forefathers and complimented by the |
| some 16,500 inhabitants. It is a popular tourist | | | | masterful art of the most important and famous |
| destination. What made this small city so popular? | | | | painters. And the result? Just visit a specialized music |
| Well, besides the production of Limoncello (an | | | | box store and see for yourself. Such an artistic |
| alcoholic digestive made from lemon rinds, alcohol, | | | | creation is unparalleled in our modern times and it will |
| water and sugar), it is the wood craftsmanship that | | | | definitely have an emotional impact upon any |
| made this region world famous. Their highly skilled | | | | purchaser. Solid maple, burl elm or rosewood are few |
| artisans in wood craftsmanship bring out the beauty | | | | of the materials used to create the boxes in which |
| of music boxes. | | | | the inlaid pieces are applied. Each of the Sorrento |
| Why are the musical boxes made here special? The | | | | music boxes is carefully honed and varnished, the |
| difference is in the wood and the way it is worked. | | | | inside all lined with plush velvet and the hardware |
| The art of handmade inlaid woodwork is an old and | | | | made in an attractive golden metal. The quality levels |
| noble Italian tradition, typical of Southern Italy (and | | | | are measured by several important factors: |
| especially Sorrento) and can only be performed by | | | | refinement of the design, delicacy of the hand work, |
| the skilled and highly trained artisans whose craft is | | | | choice of woods and the execution of the final |
| handed down from generation to generation. This is | | | | stages of the work: gluing, dressing and refinements. |
| an old, very delicate and difficult art. They build these | | | | The prices for such exquisite items vary, from $90 |
| wonderful music boxes with a decorative composition | | | | on simple, yet elegant Sorrento inlaid box with an 18 |
| obtained by cutting, inserting and assembling several | | | | note comb to almost $90,000 for 144 note comb, |
| colored pieces of wood to create a special design or | | | | five cylinders, work of art adorned with an inlay of |
| picture. Next, these tiny wood pieces are put onto a | | | | 18 different precious woods. If you have the money |
| surface to create a design, which is most of the | | | | for it, don't hesitate to purchase such an item. Each |
| times level with the surface of the music box. | | | | particular piece is a unique work of art and its value is |
| Each original item of these musical boxes is specially | | | | proportional to the quality level obtained. Many of the |
| handcrafted in Sorrento, Italy by the most skilled | | | | larger pieces will become family heirlooms that are |
| artisans. The fine wood craftsmen of Sorrento were | | | | sure to be treasured generation after generation. |