Lot Essay
The present clock, with its fine Geneva enamelling and exotic ormolu case on elephant feet was almost certainly made for the export market, most likely as a present for a Chinese dignitary.
.jpg?w=1)
HOWLETT & HORNE, LONDON. CIRCA 1780
Details
A fine George III ormolu and enamel musical and quarter chiming small table clock
Howlett & Horne, London. Circa 1780
The case with foliate ormolu finials to the pagoda top applied with moulded panels decorated with polychrome flowers on a dark blue ground, quatrefoil sound frets to the cornice with unusual foliate drop finials to the angles, the body of the case with further panels of enamel to the back door and the sides set with arched sound frets, the base resting on well cast elephant feet, the dial with paste-set glazed bezel within a symmetrical band of further quatrefoil sound frets, circular white enamel Roman and Arabic chapter disc with delicately pierced gold hands with sweep centre seconds, the movement with five tapered pillars, triple chain fusee movement, tiny verge escapement with short bob pendulum, three tune musical train with silvered selection disc on the backplate engrvaed Highland Laddie/Prince Williams Return/La Tracie, the musical playing on a centrally mounted cluster of eight transverse-mounted bells with ten hammers, the quarters chiming on the same bells via a line of eight opposing hammers, the hours struck by one hammer on the largest bell, the backplate with winding squares, hand-set button and signed Howlett & Horne London
10 in. (25 cm) high
Howlett & Horne, London. Circa 1780
The case with foliate ormolu finials to the pagoda top applied with moulded panels decorated with polychrome flowers on a dark blue ground, quatrefoil sound frets to the cornice with unusual foliate drop finials to the angles, the body of the case with further panels of enamel to the back door and the sides set with arched sound frets, the base resting on well cast elephant feet, the dial with paste-set glazed bezel within a symmetrical band of further quatrefoil sound frets, circular white enamel Roman and Arabic chapter disc with delicately pierced gold hands with sweep centre seconds, the movement with five tapered pillars, triple chain fusee movement, tiny verge escapement with short bob pendulum, three tune musical train with silvered selection disc on the backplate engrvaed Highland Laddie/Prince Williams Return/La Tracie, the musical playing on a centrally mounted cluster of eight transverse-mounted bells with ten hammers, the quarters chiming on the same bells via a line of eight opposing hammers, the hours struck by one hammer on the largest bell, the backplate with winding squares, hand-set button and signed Howlett & Horne London
10 in. (25 cm) high
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.