Music box - Italy - 1990-2000

A decorative Venetian gondola featuring lights and a music box—an exceptionally popular souvenir from Italy (Venice) during the 1960s and 1970s. Such ornaments were once a staple on shelves and in display cabinets in many homes throughout the former Yugoslavia. They were crafted primarily from plastic and adorned with elaborate gold and black details. When plugged into a power source, the lights inside the cabin (*felze*) illuminate; a distinctive feature of this model is that it often includes a ballerina and a gondolier, both of which move in time to the melody.
• Fully functional aesthetics and lighting: Photos taken in the dark show that all the miniature colored bulbs (blue, red, yellow) are working, creating a distinct retro ambiance. • Swiss musical movement: A label on the box indicates that it contains a high-quality movement from the renowned brand MAPSA (Swiss Musical Movement). It plays the melody "Love Story"—one of the most popular and romantic choices for such souvenirs. • Well-preserved packaging: The red box, labeled "Modello di Gondola," and the original blue plastic insert are in excellent condition, with no significant damage.

Length: 42 cm Height: approx. 18 cm Country of origin: Italy Material: plastic, with a high-quality built-in musical mechanism Period: 1960s–1970s Condition: perfect The musical mechanism is in full working order; the ballerina rotates while the melody plays.