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Geneva, Mar 29, 2009

LOT 329

Renaissance Table Clock & Sundial Hans Gruber, (Furtwangen, Nuremberg). Dated 1574. Very fine and extremely rare, early, gilt brass, three-train, hour-striking Renaissance table clock with alarm, quarter-hour indication, striking recording dial, one detachable side-panel interior with sundial and compass. To be sold without reserve

C. Rectangular, gilt brass, four outset fluted Ionic columns with engraved plinths, overhanging entablature, latched sides, the lefthand side engraved with the seated figure of Patience holding a lamb, strapwork border, engraved below ?Patiencia?, the interior engraved with the full-length figure of Astronomy holding an armillary sphere within a strapwork and repeat-pattern border, engraved ?Astrol?, the right-hand side engraved with the seated winged figure of Melancholy holding a pair of dividers on a globe within a strapwork border, engraved below ?Melencolia?, the interior with engraved sundial with hinged gnomon, compass below, the border engraved with winged putti above and dolphins below, steel latches and springs, the top with engraved borders, four turned vase finials, steel bell stand, gilt brass Hercules finial, molded cornicing, base with engraved border, lion paw feet. D. Silver chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, lozenge half-hour divisions, inner brass alarm-setting disc with Arabic numerals, below a silver chapterring for the quarter-hour indication to match the dial, gilt brass mask engraved with a dog and rabbit in the upper corners, sea horses at the base issuing foliage and profile masks, the rear dial gilt brass, for recording the last hour struck with Arabic numerals and raised dots, winding apertures for both trains below, the gilt brass mask engraved with foliage and two seated putti, below the figure of Venus reclining in a landscape with strapwork border. Steel hands. M. Steel birdcage-type, four square-section pillars with baluster plinths and capitals, the alarm train plate engraved with foliate strapwork and an execution scene, fusee and chain for the going and striking trains, steel wheels with baluster pinions, verge escapement, bob pendulum in front of the dial, striking train with countwheel, striking with a single hammer from a vertical side-action rod on the bell, alarm train with open spring and stopwork, sounding with a double-ended hammer on the bell, alarm on/off switch in the dial plate, alarm stop by means of a steel lever with a man?s head terminal below the bell. Case with the punchmark of Hans Gruber. Dim. 23 x 11 x 11 cm.