Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 208

Robbert Dalson, London. Made circa 1775. Fine, musical, three-train, mahogany and brass hour and half-hour striking bracket clock with triple date, moon phases, lunar calendar and with a choice of six tunes.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

EUR 10,000 - 13,000 / USD 12,000 - 16,000

Sold: CHF 11,500

C. Mahogany with inverted bell-top with brass outlining, molded cornice, the sides with square-pierced sound frets, hinged carrying handles and arch-top glazed panels, glazed back and front doors, the front with gilt brass outlining and square-pierced corner panels, canted corners, molded base with brass band and raised on bracket feet. D. 20 cm., brass with arch-top, applied silvered chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring and Arabic five minute numerals, scroll spandrels, matted center with sector shaped apertures for the days of the week and months, date aperture below 12, strike/silent and music/silent dials above, aperture for the moon phases in the arch with lunar calendar and tune selection scale above. Pierced steel hour and minute hands, ?heart? tune selection hand. M. Massive gilt brass, foliate and flower engraved, three trains with fusee and chain, anchor escapement with brass bob pendulum and pendulum holdfast on the backplate, striking the hours on a bell mounted on the side of the movement. The 19 cm., pinned musical cylinder mounted on top of the movement, playing on a nest of 12 bells with 21 hammers, activated in place of the striking at the hour if selected. Dial signed. Dim. 55 x 38 x 26 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 4-18-22

Fair

Spotted

Later original

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 4-7-05

Fair

Oxidized

HANDS Luminous material reapplied

Notes

It is interesting to note that the month and day calendar dials are named in Dutch. It is probable that the clock was made either for a Dutch client or that Dalson was a Dutchman working in England. The six tunes that can be selected to play are: Come Lasses & Lads, The Vicar of Bray, A-Hunting We Will Go, A Fine Old English Gentleman, Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be and The Bailiffs Daughter of Islington.