Bols Musical Wine Bottle

Q:         I have an 11-inch frosted glass wine bottle with a music box built into the bottle’s recessed bottom. The bottle is marked “Bols” around the bottom, but the wooden bottom of the music box is marked “Bottle made in France, Musical unit made in Switzerland.” When the bottle is picked up, the music box plays. There’s a little pin on the bottom that winds the music box and stops the music when the bottle is set down. What is the history and value of this bottle?

A :        The Lucas Bols company, based in Amsterdam, is the oldest distillery in the world. It traces its history back to 1575. But its glass music-box bottles, including examples with a dancing ballerina inside, date from the middle of the 20th century. They usually sell for $20 to $50.