J.J. Sauter a Esslingen

J. J. Sauter a Esslingen, Germany, circa 1790. Very fine and extremely rare gilt brass and marble gravity rack clock with date. Rectangular marble base with ormolu floral decoration, four ormolu-set marble feet, from the center ormolu support for a rack with four curved feet, gilt brass rack with a leader, small finial, movement housing of drum-shape with laurel-leaf garland at the top. White enamel, upright Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions, fifteen-minute Arabic markers. Blued steel pierced hands. 70 mm., full plate brass, cylindrical pillars, cylinder escapement, six-arm large brass balance, flat baance spring.Dim. Height 50 cm., base width 16 cm. Notes The clock is driven by its own weight, the vertical rack gearing with one of the wheels driving the clock. The winding is done by lifting the movement box to the top of the rack. It is unusual that it employs a cylinder escapement. Sauter The Sauter family was a well known family of instrument and clock makers in Esslingen and the surrounding areas.