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c.1850 Long-Running English Skeleton Timepiece

A very nice and unusual mid-19 th century long-running English skeleton clock. The high quality skeletonized fusee movement with extremely thick plates, six massive screwed pillars, four-spoke wheelwork with extra long collets and an extremely large spring barrel, 4.25 in. diameter, with a correspondingly large fusee. Mounted on top is a large lever balance platform with a split bimetallic balance wheel, a flat balance spring and a fast slow toward the front. The silver engraved chapter ring dial has Roman numerals for the hours, a minute ring, turned posts and steel cut hands.

The movement, as stated in the literature, is designed to run 120 days, but unfortunately we are not nearly courageous enough to wind it up completely and will leave any practical testing to the discretion of the new owner.

This exact clock is pictured in Derek Robert's book ‘British Skeleton Clocks', pgs. 250-251.

The whole sits under a dome with an ebonized base.

Height of Clock – 13.5 in.
SOLD

A very rare 19th century ormolu and silvered bronze mantel clock commonly referred to as ‘au gastronome’. The clock features a grinning peasant just beginning a wonderful meal that includes chicken, wine, bread, cheese and a dessert all of which is modeled in silvered bronze and sits upon the ormolu table. The mechanism is housed in the table and the whole sits upon a stepped base with silvered food related applied mounts and wine bottles as feet. The finely lettered porcelain dial has black roman numerals, steel Breguet style hands and a cast silvered bezel. The eight-day two-train movement strikes on a bell and still retains its original silk-thread suspension.
Unlike clocks of the earlier periods there is no moral or story. It is a snapshot of an enjoyable moment in everyday life. In portraying such a moment it elevates the ordinary to a higher level, one worthy of reflection.
This is a very rare clock that would be appreciated by both clock and food enthusiasts worldwide.
Height – 13in
SOLD

c.1890 French Gilt and Silvered Bronze Windmill Clock

A completely restored turn-of-the-century animated gilt and silvered bronze windmill clock. The silvered cylindrical brickwork has a gilt bronze conical roof and animated wind veins above, a cast balustrade, timepiece, barometer and two thermometers in the center and windows, a door and a circular molded base below. The whole sits upon a circular black Belgian marble base.

The time-only eight-day movement has a balance wheel escapement and a silvered chapter ring dial with a gilt sunken center. The dial has well-lettered Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numbers for the five-minute marks and steel cut hands. Above the clock sits the Aneroid barometer. It has a silvered dial lettered in French, a steel indicator hand, a brass hand to indicate the last reading and a sunken gilt center. The two gilt-engraved thermometer scales, one for Fahrenheit and the other for both Centigrade and Reamur, both have mercury thermometers.

Mounted in the base is the separate clockwork movement that powers the animation. It is wound through the small door and spins the animated veins via a cord and pulley system for approximately 6 hours per wind.

Fantasy and Industrial clocks became popular during the late 19 th century in response to the Industrial Revolution. Derek Robert's book, ‘Mystery, Novelty, and Fantasy Clocks' is the best work on the subject and gives an informed discussion on all the different aspects of this segment of horology.

The whole has been completely restored and operates as originally designed.

Height – 16in.
SOLD

c.1898 Miniature French Gilt-Bronze Ivory Paneled Carriage Clock.

A very high quality turn-of-the-century gilt-bronze ivory mounted miniature carriage clock. The well-proportioned case with a bowed, reeded handle, reeded corner columns with Corinthian capitals, dental work on the curved top and bottom and engraved masks bordering the painted ivory panels to the sides and the porcelain dial.

The extremely well executed oval painted ivory panels depict Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, are both bordered by superbly engraved masks and are protected by convex oval glasses. They are scribed in ink on the reverse with the names of the subjects and were most likely inspired by the many royal portraits of painters such as Elisabeth LeBrun. Both Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the sister of Louis XVI, were executed during the French Revolution. They became popular subjects during the later half of the 19 th century when the Louis XVI style again flourished.

The finely lettered white porcelain dial has blue Roman numerals for the hours, red Arabic five-minute marks, steel-cut hands and is also surrounded by an engraved mask and protected by a beveled glass.

The high-quality eight-day time-only movement winds and sets through the back, is number ‘2951' and still retains the original balance platform. The silvered platform has a cut bimetallic balance wheel with adjusting screws, a flat balance, a fast-slow lever with a screwed register plate and has a single round cock for all the upper pivots of the escapement.

Both the movement and case are stamped with a capital ‘M'. The front top edge of the case bears the engraved initials ‘RM' and the back edge is engraved with the date ‘1898'.

For a similar case see: Derek Robert's, ‘Carriage Clocks', fig. 6-42.

For similar panels see: ‘Fine Carriage Clocks' by Fanelli, pg. 66.

Height - 3in.(handle down)
SOLD

c.1885 French Gilt and Silvered Bronze Animated Lighthouse Clock.

A very nice late 19 th century gilt and silvered bronze animated lighthouse clock. The gilt bronze case is shaped like an early lighthouse with decorative brickwork, silvered windows and door, a cast gilt-bronze balustrade that is supported by silvered posts and has an animated top. The whole sits upon a circular black Belgian marble base.

In the base is the separate spring driven movement that is wound through the door and rotates the top for approximately six hours per wind. The top has a clock, a barometer and two thermometers. The clock has a time only movement with a balance wheel escapement and the fast/slow out the front, a silvered engraved dial with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic five-minute marks, steel cut hands and a sunken gilt bronze center. The aneroid barometer has a silvered circular well-lettered scale, a gilt hand to register the last reading and a steel cut hand to register the current barometric pressure. To the sides are the two thermometer scales each with mercury tubes, one showing the temperature in Fahrenheit while the other in both Centigrade and Reaumur.

The whole has been completely restored.

For additional reading on Industrial clocks see: ‘Mystery, Novelty and Fantasy Clocks' by Derek Roberts.

Height – 17in.
SOLD

c.1880 Swiss Engraved Gilt and Silvered Bronze Bird Box

A very nice late 19 th century engraved gilt and silvered bronze bird box. The high quality case is elaborately decorated with wonderful floral engraving on an engine turned ground, has unusually chamfered corners and has a silvered and engraved pop-up lid that depicts two birds in flight amongst scrolling foliage. When activated the colorful bird pops up, rotates side-to-side, flaps his wings, tail and ivory beak and sings an unusual song. When finished it disappears below the detailed fretwork panel as the lid slams closed.

It comes with its original case and is in restored condition.

Overall Size – 4in.x 2 5/8 in.x 1 1/2 in.
SOLD

c. 1885 Carved Black Forest Mantle Clock.

A very large late 19 th century carved Black Forest mantle clock. The clock is located in the center of a large carved rockwork scene surmounted by two well-carved eagles with outstretched wings, the lower with a dead sheep in its claws. Below are several scenes set amongst the crisply carved foliage and rockwork that include a family of sheep in the center and a young boar and a rabbit to the corners. The whole sits upon an ebonized serpentine base and has a peaked housing mounted to the back to enclose the movement and gong.

The eight day time and strike French movement has a Brocot escapement mounted through the dial and strikes on a gong mounted within the case. The porcelain dial has a sunken center, Roman numerals for the hours, the clocks escapement with jeweled pallets and patinated spade hands.

The size, subject matter and quality of carving make this a wonderful clock for anyone who either collects carved pieces or who wants a good representation of this segment of horology. Since the makers of the cases were often farmers, without any true horological knowledge, supplementing their incomes during the winter months they often purchased completed French movements for their clocks. The whole is in restored condition.

Height – 44 in.
SOLD