Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 268

Transylvanian Clock Johann Kurschell in Schesburg (now Sighisoara, Transylvania, circa 1650. Important and very rare gilt brass pre balance-spring, single-hand hour-striking horizontal table clock.

CHF 14,000 - 18,000

EUR 9,100 - 11,700

Sold: CHF 25,300

C. Square, side panels with glazed frames to view the movement. molded base and top, gilt paw feet, base fitted with a bell. D. Silver chapter ring with Roman numerals and half hour markers mounted on gilt plate with the center engraved with flowers in 17th century style, each corner engraved with a different flower. Single ?Tulip? hand. M. Square 65 x 65 mm, gilt brass, square iron columns, fusee and chain for the going train with decorative steel fusee chain safety-lever spring, short gilt train, verge escapement, circular iron foliot, irregular pierced and florally engraved single-footed cock, ratchet-wheel set-up with decorative engraved click, striking with fixed engraved barrel, unusual cylindrical friction-fit on its arbor governor, count wheel set on the back plate, striking on a bell by a single hammer.Sighisoara on the movement.Dim. 87 x 87 mm


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

The present early horizontal table clock was made in Sighisoara at the time Schesburg, a town which was originally founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the "Saxons of Transylvania". This small, fortified medieval town played an important strategic and commercial role on the fringes of central Europe for several centuries. In 1431 a nobleman named Vlad III was made the military governor of Transylvania, a region directly northwest of Wallachia. Vlad was also known as Vlad Tepes "tepes" means the "impaler" and "Vlad Dracula", or "son of the dragon" referring to a fraternal order of knights, the Order of the Dragon, to which Vlad's father belonged. The father was called "Vlad Dracula" and his son became known as "Vlad Dracula", or "son of the dragon". The word "drac"also means"devil" in Romainian, and thus the word took on a double meaning for enemies of Vlad and his father. The 19th century novelist Bram Stoker drew on Dracula's legend for his famous vampire novel.l.Vlad III established a reign of terror, impaling his enemies on wooden stakes and placing them by the city gates to discourage potential wrongdoers and instituting other forms of torture and punishment. However, he can also be credited with many positive accomplishments. He fought successfully against the Turks and established a kingdom that was militarily strong and economically sound. Under his rule, trade flourished and artisans were given encouragement. In this favorable environment, clockmaking, based on the German tradition, developed in the city.Very few examples of the Transylvanian clocks have survived. The present clock is therefore extremely rare. It is an excellent example of the 17th century German clockmaking tradition that spread far beyond Augsburg.The clock is very well executed and well finished. It is highly decorated; the clicks and hammer are chased and engraved, the plates are well hammered and finished, the entire piece shows the hand of an excellent clockmaker. While most pre balance-spring clocks were later endowed with a balance spring, the present clock is preserved in excellent original condition, with its original foliot.