A Victorian engraved gilt-brass, malachite, lapis lazuli and glass-mounted eight day miniature chiffonier timepiece

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A Victorian engraved gilt-brass, malachite, lapis lazuli and glass-mounted eight day miniature chiffonier timepiece

THOMAS COLE. MID 19TH CENTURY

Details

A Victorian engraved gilt-brass, malachite, lapis lazuli and glass-mounted eight day miniature chiffonier timepiece
Thomas Cole. Mid 19th Century
With reeded double pilasters to the angles and on tapering circular section feet, one side engraved with a cherub playing amidst foliate scrolls and the other with a sprite, the rear engraved to the top with a demon tormenting a horse and below engraved in high relief with a stag attacking a hunter amidst profuse foliage, stamped THOS. COLE to its reverse, the top with glass panel over a pierced-out and engraved panel depicting two knights, revealing the engraved interior of the key drawer below, this depicting a sprite letting a cat out of a bag, the front with key drawer set with lapiz lazuli panels above two doors with florally engraved cartouche frames inset with malachite panels, their insides with engraved panels showing respectively one cherub with a bow and another with a key, each stamped THOS. COLE to the reverse, centrally engraved with a set of mock drawers and with squares for winding the movement and setting the hands, with aperture to the side revealing the escapement and engraved SLOW/FAST for regulation, with glazed silvered and engraved dial above, blued steel Breguet hands, indirect drive from the movement with four pillars, single chain and fusee with maintaining power, with vertically-positioned platform escapement with underslung lever and blued steel hairspring; original double-ended cruciform key
5 1/8 in. (13.5 cm.) high

Provenance

Christie's London, Clocks, Watches, Barometers and Collectable Swatches, 7 May 1992, lot 93.

Literature

Illustrated, Richard Good, Victorian Clocks, British Museum Press, 1996, pl.VI, see also p.67.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

A Cole chiffonier clock of related design was sold Christie's London, Important Clocks and Marine Chronometers, 6 December 2006, lot 41. The present clock differs in having fully engraved side panels rather than malachite panels. On the previous clock the key drawer was inset with bloodstones and its upper platform was covered by a malachite panel; on this clock the platform is pierced and engraved with two equestrian figures, allowing a view of the beautifully engraved key drawer below. The doors here open to an engraved interior of drawers with pierced with apertures for front winding, hand set and regulation - all features found to the reverse of the previous clock. The rear finials, cast as buds, are also decidedly more elaborate. Both clocks have Cole's 'secret' signature stamped behind their inside door panels. The previous example carried a presentation inscription dated 1854 and it is probable this clock derives from around that time also.

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