Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 12, 2003

LOT 295

Unsigned, Japan, circa 1850.Very fine and rare brass lantern calendar clock striking hours with double fusee, alarm and visible pirouette escapement.

CHF 12,000 - 14,000

EUR 8,300 - 9,700 / USD 9,000 - 10,500

C.Set between two horizontal brass plates held by four nicely turned columns, brass side panels engraved with passion flowers, front with small engraved arch. D. Revolving gilt brass with 12 silver movable rectangular hour plaques with additional 12 half-hours, set in circular aperture of the brass dial plate engraved with passion flowers, three apertures at the top for the Japanese date and months - Jukkan date to the right and Junishi months to the left, center one for striking/silent with smll lever below. Elaborate stationary single blued steel hand.M. Rectangular, 147 x 93 mm., two tier design, striking train between two plates, going train and alarm set below, fusee and chain on each train, verge escapement with rack and pinion arrangement, steel four-arm balance with four prongs for brass discs, count wheel on the back plate, alarm with going barrel, striking on a bell.Dim. Height 19 cm., width and depth 12 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3
Movement: 3*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

The Japanese produced three major groups of clocks - bracket clocks (see previous lot), lantern clocks and pillar clocks. The lantern clocks were either weight-driven, with their own stand, usually made of mulberry wood, or, like this one, were spring-driven. The latter generally had a going train with fusee, and a striking train with going barrel. In this clock, both trains have fusees. The present clock also features an interesting verge escapement in which the impulse to the balance is givenvia a rack on the verge arbor which drives an additional pinion set with balance. Huygens made a similar arrangement with his balance spring invention.