7,200 CHF
Flower of the east French. Made circa 1860. Very fine, rare and extremely unusual, 8-day going table clock in the form of a crysanthemum flower with the original ebonised wood base and glass shade. In the form of a crysanhemum flower with colured fabric petals, the stem and leaves in naturalistic fabric with a bud and smaller bloom to the side, ebonised base and glass shade. Applied white enamel oval cartouches with radial Roman numerals. Gilt brass serpent hands. 8.5 cm, gilt brass three-quarter plate, going barrel, cylinder escapement vertically mounted on a brass platform on the backplate, three-arm gilt balance, flat balance spring, index regulator. Dim. 27 x 21.5 x 15 cm. Notes This very unusual clock has survived in remarkably original condition, it is a good example of the expensive and exotic creations made in Paris during the 19th century and almost certainly originated from an atelier in the Palais Royal. Flower-form clocks are rare, and due to their delicate nature few survive to the present day. Other known examples include a rose, sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, November 16, 2008, lot 246 and a sunflower is illustrated in: Tardy, Le Pendule Francaise, 2ème. Partie, p. 231. Chrysanthemums were first Cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC. An ancient Chinese city (Xiaolan Town of Zhongshan City) was named Ju-Xian, meaning "chrysanthemum city". The plant is particularly significant during the Double Ninth Festival. The chrysan
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2010-03-20
