Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 10, 2013

LOT 387

AMI ? THE HARBOUR MUSICAL AUTOMATON CLOCK Th. Ami à Genève, the movement French. Made circa 1850. Fine and rare, musical, gilt-bronze, bronze and inlaid rosewood, 8-day going, hour and half-hour striking table clock with rocking two-ship automaton and playing two tunes in sequence at will. Accompanied by a painted glass shade.

C. Bronze in the form of a rocky outcrop above a harbour surmounted and flanked by a gilt-bronze chapel and buildings, gilt-bronze tree, the harbor walls with barrels and bales, fabric ?sea? where the two ships ride the waves driven by a separate movement to the music, polished rosewood base containing the musical movement inlaid with mythical sea monsters and a shell, pull-lever to start the automaton and the music. D. Moirè engine-turned silvered with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel cathedrale hands. M. Gilt brass, circular plates, going barrels for both trains, anchor escapement, silk suspension, brass bob pendulum with steel rod, outside countwheel striking on a bell. Musical Movement: brass pinned cylinder playing with tuned steel teeth on a single comb, spring barrel, fly governor. Independent automaton movement with large going barrel, wheel train and fly governor. Clock dial signed. DIM. 65 x 44 x 27 cm.