Christianus Caroly (also Carolli or Caroli), A watchmaker in Königsberg working in the second half of the 17th century who specialized in table clocks. A very similar clock, probably from the same cast, with the same feet and main frame, was in the well-known Bloch-Pimentel Collection. It was a spectacular table clock. circa 1660, in its original leather box. It was sold by Antiquorum on November 11, 2001, lot No. 6, and is now in an important American collection. The clock in the Bloch-Pimentel collection, the present piece, and lot 293 of this auction, are the only other clocks by this maker known today. Caroly closely followed the German/Polish tradition in clockmaking. During the 17th century, square and hexagonal table clocks were the most popular horological products east of Dresden. They were also appreciated by Poles and Eastern Prussians, because they were of a relatively robust construction, and were easily transported from one place to another, due to the leather fitted boxes with which they were always equipped. They were, in fact, the first traveling clocks. Though some were very complicated, most were equipped with striking and repeating,and often an alarm. After the victorious war with Tectonic Knights, Poland got Russian Kingdom (Eastern Prussia) with its Metropolis in Królewiec (Königsberg). Today, it is in Russia and is called Kaliningrad.