Rotary dialer decorated porcelain device, depicting a musician.
An antique upright black metal produced ca. 1918 for Rikstelefon, the telephone network for Televerket, the Swedish agency responsible for telecommunications starting in 1853. The word Rikstelefonen means that the telephone could connect between cities (i.e. long-distance). On the rotary dialer is a hand decorated porcelain device, depicting a musician playing a lute for a young maiden holding a bouquet of flowers. It is signed Fragonard, after Jean-Honore Fragonard (1732-1806), French Rococo artist and printmaker who produced more than 550 paintings distinguished by their exuberance and hedonism. Original black Bakelite and chrome receiver. On each side is the manufacturer stamp gilt stenciled RIKSTELEFONEN alternating with lion shields. The Rikstelefon network was supplied with telephones produced by Ericsson.

Issued: c. 1918
Dimensions: 9"H
Country of Origin: Sweden

Condition: Fraying to original cord. Age related wear. Untested, otherwise overall good condition