Our conservators have restored a tiny musical movement hidden inside a 19th-century silver inkstand. Metal specialists working on the inkstand noticed that the central seal was unusually heavy, and closer examination revealed the miniscule mechanism hidden in its base. The inkstand is the shape of a rowing boat with entwined snakes at either end.

The movement was sent to our in-house horological conservators, who replaced and repaired several tiny parts. Special tools were required to accommodate the object's miniscule scale.

Watch this short film to hear the full story of the mechanism's restoration – and hear it play its music once again.