Reuge Music Box — Dancing Hunter "Im Wald und auf der Heide" Steinbach Style

Wind-up music box with a Reuge Swiss cylinder movement housed in a turned-wood cylindrical base painted vivid lime green, banded with a ring of bold orange-and-yellow daisy decals above a thin yellow pinstripe. When wound, the central platform rotates, setting the hunter figure dancing — a hand-carved and painted figure in a wool felt coat with belt and brimmed hat, cradling a small carved hare and holding a tall staff, flanked by four carved spruce trees and five red-capped toadstools. The carving and painting style is in the Erzgebirge folk-toy tradition of the Seiffen region of Saxony, Germany. The underside retains the original red Reuge foil label reading "Im Wald und auf der Heide" (In the Forest and on the Heath), the metal Reuge winding key, and four turned wooden bun feet.

"Im Wald und auf der Heide" is a 19th-century German hunting song by Hermann Goetz (1840–1876), widely associated with Jäger folk culture and frequently paired with forest-themed music box figurals of this type..

CONDITION

Good overall and fully functional — tested and confirmed working, with the platform rotating and figure dancing as intended. Paint losses and small chips present along the green lacquered base wall, with two visible hairline cracks in the lacquer; the felt coat shows light surface rubbing. Original Reuge foil label on underside is partially torn but legible.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• 5.5" H × 3.875" Diameter
• Materials: Turned wood, wool felt, carved wood figures, metal cylinder movement
• Maker: Reuge SA, Sainte-Croix, Switzerland (movement)
• Tune: "Im Wald und auf der Heide" (In the Forest and on the Heath)
• Action: Central platform and hunter figure rotate/dance when wound
• Activation: Side-mounted brass winding knob; key retained on underside
• Figural style: Consistent with Erzgebirge / Seiffen, Saxony folk-toy tradition
• Production period: Mid-20th century,
• Campbell's Soup Can (4" H) Shown for Scale