Geneva, Nov 05, 2023

LOT 274

BLONDEAU, FRANCE, GILT BRONZE MANTEL CLOCK WITH EQUATION OF TIME WITH EIGHT DAY GOING MOVEMENT, STRIKING ON THE HOUR AND HALF HOURS, PINWHEEL ESCAPEMENT, GILT BRONZE

CHF 20,000 - 40,000

EUR 21,100 - 42,100 / USD 22,200 - 44,300 / HKD 174,000 - 348,000

TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold: CHF 5,750

An extremely rare and very beautiful eight days going movement, restauration style case with dial surmounting the four pillars and set within an ornate gadroon edged bezel cast with alternate sunflowers and roses, with a floral, foliate and fruiting. On both side two elegants lady holding aloft a cornucopia, while standing cross legged upon a rectangular dais, set upon a rectangular plinth cast with an elaborate foliate and scrolled mount to include wreaths, torches and arrow heads, upon a conformingly shaped stepped base with an acanthus leaf border, supported on four rosette cast bun feet. Silvered and matte dial, roman hour chapter, outer minute divisions, sector for the equation of time between 3 and 9 o'clock, blued steel hands for the center seconds and hours and minutes hands, gilt brass hand with a sunburst pointer to indicate the 16 minute solar minute differentials.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Brand Blondeau, France

Year Circa 1820-1830

Length 430

Caliber twin barrel spring driven movement, one for the going and one for the striking, with knife edge suspension and pinwheel escapement, striking on the hour and half hours on a single bell, with outside countwheel, mounted on four flat gilded pillars, behind which is a very fine nine rod compensated pendulum with large gilded brass bob

Height 570

Width 150

Signature Dial

Notes

Equation of time

The equation of time reflects the difference between the mean solar time and the true solar time; this one is variable over the course of a year. It is thus the difference between the time indicated by a sundial and that indicated by a perfectly regulated timepiece which would indicate midday at the time of the passage of the Sun to the meridian. This difference results from the combination of the effects of two characteristics of the movement of the Earth around the Sun: its elliptical orbit (rather than circular) and the inclination of its axis of rotation on the plane of the orbit.

Equation of time, “running”-type

A type of display of the equation of time on a timekeeper. The solar time is permanently shown by a “sun” minute-hand, which revolves, following or preceding the regular mean time minute-hand. In this way, the mean time, the solar time and the increment of time separating them can be perceived all at once.

Equation of Time, “sector”-type

A type of display of the equation of time on a timekeeper. The solar time is permanently indicated by an index or a hand on a subsidiary dial graduated generally in a sector ranging from + 15 to - 15 minutes. To know the solar time, it is therefore necessary to add or remove this lapse of time at the mean time.

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