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A South German small engraved gilt-brass and gilt-copper striking and alarm tischuhr

EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A South German small engraved gilt-brass and gilt-copper striking and alarm tischuhr
Early 17th Century
The case with repoussé gadrooned domed top and balustraded gallery around the bell, spire finials to the corners, the detachable side panels with columnar angles cast with grotesque masks and the panels engraved with a female figure holding a book and a male figure with instrument, above repoussé plinth decorated with foliate designs and a bearded mask, on ball feet, the two dials engraved with trailing leaves, the front with small maker's stamp, the time chapter disc with outer I-XII chapter ring and inner 13-24 ring, central alarm-setting disc, single steel hand, alarm release lever above, the rear with engraved strike indication ring with touch pieces, pierced with a small heart by 10, replaced matching steel hand, the one day steel posted frame movement with back-to-back trains, gut fusees with steel-capped brass barrels, three spoke wheel work, verge with steel two-arm balance, countwheel strike, restored alarm train wound through the side, strike and alarm hammers sounding on possibly replaced bell above
20.5 cm. high

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.

Lot Essay

The maker's stamp appears to be a Cross overlaid with an S within a shield. Jürgen Abeler records a similar mark, attributed to the unknown maker of a large travel clock dating from circa 1590 (Meister Der Uhrmacherkunst, Düsseldorf, 1977, p.685).

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