Lot 66
66
A RENAISSANCE-STYLE JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED ROCK-CRYSTAL TABLE-CLOCK
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus bu… Read more
A RENAISSANCE-STYLE JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED ROCK-CRYSTAL TABLE-CLOCK

DESIGNED BY REINHOLD VASTERS, AACHEN, CIRCA 1870

Details
A RENAISSANCE-STYLE JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED ROCK-CRYSTAL TABLE-CLOCK
Designed by Reinhold Vasters, Aachen, circa 1870
The domed rock-crystal base carved with mythological gods and goddesses within gemset border enamelled with fruit and scrolls, with black enamel bands resting on three enamelled ball and scroll feet, the stem formed as Hercules wearing a scarlet lion's pelt standing on rockwork and supporting the rock-crystal globe encased in a gold band enamelled with signs of the Zodiac and surmounted by figure of Chronos finial, the reverse of the globe with applied enamelled half moon, the movement with skeletonized and florally engraved plates having fusée and spring barrel (gut line broken), verge escapement with plain two-arm steel balance wheel, gilt baluster pillars secured with rose-nuts on the top-plate and pinned to the backplate, the dial with outer 1-12 and inner 13-24 chapters engraved into the crystal globe and centred by an applied gold plaque decorated with coloured foliate enamel, similarly enamelled single hand
87/8 in. (22.5 cm.) high
Provenance
As lot 1.
Rothschild inv. no. E.de R.515.
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.
Sale room notice
This lot should be dated circa 1860. Since the catalogue was published a watercolour of this clock by Fortune de Fournier who died in 1864 has come to light.

Lot Essay

Several designs for this clock by Reinhold Vasters are in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. These designs include drawings for the entire clock, the figure of Hercules, the band of signs of the Zodiac, the dial, the finial and detail of sickle, moon on reverse, and the base. In addition, there is an alternate design for the clock and the decoration of the dial (E.2865-1919 and E.2867-1919).

A nearly identical figure of Atlas, rather than the lion pelt-clad Hercules carrying the world forms the stem of an enamelled gold and lapis lazuli desk seal, was formerly in the collection of Jack and Belle Linsky (Sotheby's New York, 21 May 1985, lot 115). This seal too was almost certainly designed by Vasters.

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