Important Collector's, Watches, Wrist...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 2000

LOT 376

French, circa 1550.Fine and rare Renaissance single hand table clock with hour-striking and alarm.

CHF 150,000 - 200,000

USD 83,000 - 112,000

C. Bronze, hexagonal, with panels engraved with figures representing the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, with a window to inspect the fusee to see how much the clock is wound, in the Mars panel. A pierced dome on top within a hexagonal crest, with masks and finials in between, on the bottom a figure representing the ground (Sol). D. Brass chapter ring with Roman numerals riveted to a brass panel with floral engraving, brass hour hand, iron alarm hand. M. Two tier with brass plate, round iron or steel baluster pillars at the bottom, straight on top, going train at top, striking and the alarm at the bottom, verge escapement with balance, sliding regulator for the tension springs, iron wheels and pinions, brass fusee cone and barrels, short three-wheel going train, striking and alarm on bell at the top of the movement, iron count wheel at the bottom.Dim. 14 cm. high, 8 cm. between the opposite walls.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 7
Movement: 3 - 2
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

Formerly in the Collection of The Time Museum.Good example of French Renaissance table clock. Very few of them have survived. In the documents of the period we find that many were made of silver and gold and some were studded with precious stones. Possibly those were melted down and only the ones with brass cases survived. French Renaissance table clocks are unique in design and consistency that lasted for about a century. As a rule the clockmaker made just the movement while the case was made in a different shop, at a casemaker?s, a practie very strictly governed by the guild rules. The exceptions were the Clockmakers to the King.