4,370 CHF
Austria, probably Vienna. Made circa 1820. Fine, very rare and unusual, ebonized wood, tin-plate, alabaster and gilt bronze day and night clock with retrograde dial and fly-back hands. Domed tin-plate top with “chimney” opening, above a molded cornice, stepped rectangular base with inset alabaster pillars with ormolu bases and capitals, a swan and leaf-scroll mount to the center, hinged tin-plate door at the back to access the light source. Semi-circular, frosted glass within an ormolu frame cast and chased with stiff-leaf decoration, painted radial Roman numerals and outer minute track. Steel Breguet hands. 90 x 75 mm., gilt brass with canted corners, going barrel, tic-tac escapement with integral cow-tail pendulum. Dim. 33 x 28.5 x 12 cm. Notes This very unusual day and night clock is also a rare late example, made when night clocks had been made obsolete by the use of repeating mechanisms and alarms. The hands are geared via two toothed racks which spring back carrying the respective hand when it reaches 6 o'clock. The mechanism and the glass dial are protected by a further sheet of glass between the light source and the dial and movement.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-10-16
