The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 407

French, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1890.Very fine and rare gilt bronze, hour and half hour striking carriage clock with centre second and singing bird.

C. Gilt bronze "cannelée", glazed four sides and top, fitted on the glazed bird cage, the four cast bronze columns with acanthus decoration. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute and seconds ring. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass, rectangular with going barrels both on the going and the striking train, platform with lateral lever escapement, bimetallic balance, blued-steel flat balance spring. Striking a bell. The bird sings "by request" only and is not set-off by the clock. Siging bird movement: square with going barrel, fly regulator and rectangular bellow, the bird with moving wings and beak, controlled by six cams.Dim. 31 x 12,5 x 11,5 cm., excluding the handle.