The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 487

Daguin Regnault à Chalon sur Marne (France), circa 1810.Souvenir d'enfanceVery fine and unusual ormolu eight day going hour and half hour striking automaton clock.

C. Rectangular mahogany base, standing on four gilt bronze winged heads and applied with palm-leaf decoration. The gilt bronze octagonal base with applied gilt figure of musician cherubs, griffins below the dial and further palm-leaf decoration, supports the automaton merry-go-round of three cherubs each riding a swan and pushing with a stick revolving flags supported by horse heads. D. White enamel with Roman numerals. Gilt bronze hands. M. Brass small pré-mouvement de Paris type, with going barel, anchor escapement, short pendulum with a silk suspension, striking on a bell with the count wheel on the back plate. The automaton merry-go-round is driven by an independent train with going barrel released by the striking train or at will by means of a cord.Signed on the dial.Dim. 60 x 30 x 25 cm. including the mahogany base.