Ishi

Ishi, Japan, early 19th century. Fine and rare wooden Japanese paper-weight clock in original wooden fitted box. Rectangular horizontal, glazed top housing the movement, glazed lower part the mainspring and the dial. 13 engraved lozenge shaped hour plaques, the first and the last the same, set lengthways in the middle of the case, single index sliding in a slot alongside. Rectangular, 44 x 11 mm, gilt brass, pierced and engraved with floral pattern, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, barrel placed at one end of the case, fusee at the other, the long length of gut line between them serving to draw the index along the length of the hour scale, wheel train above fusee, pierced engraved visible bridge-type cock on top plate with floral decoration.Signed inside of the back plate.Dim. 15 x 3 x 1.8 cm. Notes The paper-weight clock derived from the pillar clock but is spring-driven. They are generally very rare and rarely signed, which makes this clock particularly special.