It’s said that the first iteration of music boxes was created in 1381 at St. Nicholas Church in Brussels, Belgium. Automated devices would play music in church halls, and these machinations became more prevalent throughout Europe in the 1600s. Music boxes work when a cylinder with metal pins automatically revolves. Sounds are emitted when the pins hit a metal comb that hangs over the cylinder. The music box at Palais de Chine has a smaller cylinder. It’s suited to play more touching and emotionally evocative pieces.