PETER VISBAGH, THE HAGUE, THE DIAL PAINTING AFTER CORNELIUS VAN POELENBURG, CIRCA 1680-90

Details

A DUTCH EBONY STRIKING WALL CLOCK WITH REVOLVING CHAPTERS
PETER VISBAGH, THE HAGUE, THE DIAL PAINTING AFTER CORNELIUS VAN POELENBURG, CIRCA 1680-90
The ebony case with reeded moldings and flambeau vase finials, the interior with star-cut marquetry backplate the hinged copper chronoscope dial plate painted with a bacchic feast with monogram 'c p', with revolving chapter disc revolving every two hours and with two apertures displaying the hours, engraved brass minute track above; the movement joined by vase-shaped pillars with tandem spring barrel driving time and strike trains, verge escapement and cycloidal cheeks, the backplate with pierced foliate engraving to upper spandrels and countwheel, signed 'Pieter Visbagh / Fecit Hague', striking a bell below the movement
16 ¼ in. (41 cm.) high, 12 ¼ in. (31 cm.) wide, 4 ¾ in. (12 cm.) deep

Provenance

New York auction, 1950's, 'The property of a Dutch nobleman'.

Literature

C. Vincent, Northern European Clocks in New York Collections, New York, 1972, p. 21.
R. Plomp, Spring-Driven Dutch Pendulum Clocks, 1657-1710, Schiedam, 1979, p. 241, fig. 133.
P. D. Guggenheim, 'Art & Horology-An Association of Interest', Antiquarian Horology, vol. 6, December 1969, pp. 299-300 and cover.

Exhibited

Time Pieces, Staten Island Museum, New York, 11 January – 1 March 1959, cat. no. PDG 5.
Northern European Clocks in New York Collections, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 4 January – 28 March 1972, inv. no. 43, inventory label 'L. 1971.93.17A'.

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Lot Essay

Of unusual form, this 'tafelklok' or 'haagscheklok' clearly draws its inspiration from Italian night clocks. Dr. Plomp (op cit) suggests the painted dial may be by Cornelis Palmer, a pupil of Cornelis van Poelenburgh (c. 1586-1667), to whom it has traditionally been attributed. Plomp illustrates and discusses another of these clocks by Visbagh (p. 242, fig 134) and notes the two as 'exceptional for Holland'.

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