Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, May 08, 2010

LOT 442

Austrian Twelve -Tune Musical Automaton & Grande Sonnerie Striking Table Clock Austrian, probably Vienna. Made circa 1770. Fine and rare, ebonised and giltwood, 8-day going, three-train, grande sonnerie striking on two bells, table clock with automaton and metallophone playing one of twelve tunes in sequence on the hour.

C. Ebonized wood with molded cornice and base, giltwood cresting, glazed on all sides, hinged front door with pierced engraved brass sound frets, detachable side panels for access to the movement, turned bun feet. D. White reverse painted glass with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and Arabic five-minute numerals, silvered arch-top mask with applied gilt rococco spandrels, in the arch three gilt brass musicians playing a cello and violin, the conductor with automaton arm, paste-set flower moving with the action of the pendulum. Pierced gilt hands. M. Clock: rectangular gilt brass plates, four turned pillars, going barrels for the going, hour and quarter striking trains, verge escapement, short bob pendulum with holdfast, striking the hours and quarters on two bells. Music: Massive, two-tier brass frame mounted on a giltwood and blue painted base, turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, large pinned cylinder playing one of twelve tunes with 14 steel hammers on 14 tuned metal plates mounted on a sliding wooden platform above the cylinder, large brass fly governor. Dim. 60 x 41 x 30 cm.