Importantes Montres de Collection

Geneva, Nov 13, 2011

LOT 545

CHINESE DRAGON FIRE CLOCK Chinese. Made in the early 19th century. Fine and rare, black and gilt-lacquered wood, fire clock.

CHF 4,000 - 6,000

USD 4,500 - 6,500 / EUR 3,300 - 5,000

C. Dragon-form, gessoed wood decorated with black and gold lacquer, lead-lined trough with copper wire supports for the incense stick. Dim. 68 x 15.5 x 6 cm


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-25

Good

Chipped

Notes

The trough along the centre would contain a burning incense stick which would gradually burn through threads placed successively along the length of the trough. Metal weights on either end of these threads would then fall at regular intervals, dropping onto a metal tray and causing a 'clang' and creating a regular time signal. A similar clock is in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.