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FRANTZ THOMAS GUNTSCHY, PRAGUE. CIRCA 1700
Details
A Bohemian large fruitwood and brass-mounted quarter-striking and repeating table clock
Frantz Thomas Guntschy, Prague. Circa 1700
The case with scroll handle to pierced repoussé basket top, with pierced and engraved brass frets to the top door rail and to the upper sides, the latter above walnut-inlaid cartouche panels, glazed rear door, the moulded plinth fitted with a drawer with lion mask and foliate mount to loop handle, the 21 x 23 cm. (8¼ x 9 in.) gilt copper dial with silvered winged cherub mask spandrels to silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers, the centre profusely engraved with foliate scrolls and griffins around a signature cartouche for Frantz Thomas Guntschy/in Prag, with apertures for month showing zodiac and number of days and for date, with silvered, pierced and engraved hands, the movement with four substantial vase-shaped pillars, secured with nuts to the front and with pins to the rear, chain fusee for the going train and barrels for the two strike trains, pivoted verge escapement, striking the quarters on one bell at all four quarters and the hours on a further bell, with pull quarter repeat on both bells (using independent train and hammer for the quarters and the same train and bell for the hours), rack for the hours and countwheel for the quarters, rear wound (indirect gearing on the back plate for the strike barrel, pierced and engraved silvered apron (possibly later), the back plate with double scored line border and elaborately engraved with foliate scrolls around a cartouche signed Frantz Thomas/Guntschy in Prag
47.5 cm. high, handle down
Frantz Thomas Guntschy, Prague. Circa 1700
The case with scroll handle to pierced repoussé basket top, with pierced and engraved brass frets to the top door rail and to the upper sides, the latter above walnut-inlaid cartouche panels, glazed rear door, the moulded plinth fitted with a drawer with lion mask and foliate mount to loop handle, the 21 x 23 cm. (8¼ x 9 in.) gilt copper dial with silvered winged cherub mask spandrels to silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers, the centre profusely engraved with foliate scrolls and griffins around a signature cartouche for Frantz Thomas Guntschy/in Prag, with apertures for month showing zodiac and number of days and for date, with silvered, pierced and engraved hands, the movement with four substantial vase-shaped pillars, secured with nuts to the front and with pins to the rear, chain fusee for the going train and barrels for the two strike trains, pivoted verge escapement, striking the quarters on one bell at all four quarters and the hours on a further bell, with pull quarter repeat on both bells (using independent train and hammer for the quarters and the same train and bell for the hours), rack for the hours and countwheel for the quarters, rear wound (indirect gearing on the back plate for the strike barrel, pierced and engraved silvered apron (possibly later), the back plate with double scored line border and elaborately engraved with foliate scrolls around a cartouche signed Frantz Thomas/Guntschy in Prag
47.5 cm. high, handle down
Literature
Illustrated, 'Horological Dialogues', Journal of the American Section of the Antiquarian Horological Society, Volume Two, 1986, pp.90-91
Exhibited
Antiquarian Horological Society, Exhibition of Spring-Driven Table Clocks of the Seventeenth-Century, New York, June 10-14, 1986
Special notice
Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,001. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.