Etsy Is Selling the Cutest Storage Gem That Doubles as a Gift (It’s So Nostalgic!)

When’s the last time you thought about a music box? It might’ve been years ago, but the images of that twinkling melody and little spinning ballerina probably bring nostalgic memories to mind, even if you never personally owned one yourself. You may have even seen more ballet-inspired fashion and accessories lately thanks to a trend called balletcore that made waves in the past year or so. Now, that trend is going a step further just in time for the holidays. Over on Etsy, people are loving the “Nutcrackercore” aesthetic, and ballet-inspired music boxes may just be the hottest new home accessory.

Though their trendiness is relatively new, the ballet music boxes are surging in popularity on Etsy — sales are up a whopping 1,000% according to their holiday trend report! They look and function fairly similar to the kind you may have grown up with. They’re boxes that can store small trinkets, and they usually have multiple little compartments or drawers. When you open the box, a wind-up mechanism makes a song play, and there’s usually a small figurine that moves along to the tune.

These music boxes can be a lovely way to treat yourself, but they can also make a wonderful gift, especially for the holidays. The Nutcracker is a holiday tale, after all. A music box gift will feel extra special this time of year, but the boxes themselves generally don’t have overt seasonal colors or features, so they’ll be at home on your nightstand all year round. 

Some music boxes you can buy on Etsy are customizable, allowing you to add an inscription or choose which song it’ll play, but even vintage as-is music boxes can be transformed into extra-personalized gifts if you fill the box with little surprises like candy and jewelry.

Since these items are currently so popular, it’s easier than ever to find all sorts of ballet-inspired music boxes on Etsy. Some are vintage, like this box with a gold exterior and miniature sheet music, while some are customizable. This pink and white music box has a very classic look to it, but you can change the ballerina’s hair color and even add a name decal to the top of the box.

Clearly, this “Nutcrackercore” trend can be taken literally. However, if you’re into the music box trend but less into the ballerina component, there are plenty of options to suit your taste. One seller offers two box designs: A classic pink ballerina and one that looks like a carousel on the outside. It even has a horse instead of a ballerina inside. Or, go with something more unique but still nostalgic, like this porcelain and brass music box from the 1970s. It’s in the shape of a piano decorated with birds, and it plays a tune from the musical Cats — because why not?