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A SMALL CHINESE ENAMEL-MOUNTED AND PASTE-SET GILT-BRASS MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TABLE CLOCK

EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A SMALL CHINESE ENAMEL-MOUNTED AND PASTE-SET GILT-BRASS MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TABLE CLOCK
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
CASE: the foliate-mounted arched case with moulded top surmounted by a pineapple finial, scroll and foliate frames to blue ground enamel side panels with red and gilt decoration, mounted with coloured paste gems and enamel and with rows of pastes to the door frame and scroll feet
DIAL: 3½ in. wide with enamel spandrels to white enamel chapter disc, brass hands, painted automaton waterfall scene with automaton rowing boats and automaton oarsman to the arch
MOVEMENT: with triple chain fusees, verge escapement, hour strike on a single bell and playing the music hourly on a nest of eight bells via eight hammers and 1½ in. long pin barrel, engraved border and 'nonsense' signature to the back plate; winding key
13½ in. (34 cm.) high; 7¼ in. (18.5 cm.) wide; 5½ in. (14 cm.) deep

Special notice

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

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Lot Essay

The design of the present clock, with its distinctive moulded top and its gently bombé sides clearly derives from those used for automaton clocks in the late 18th Century, by makers such as Francis Perigal. See, for example, an ebony musical clock sold anonynously, Christie's London, 2 July 2004, lot 74.

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