MADE FOR THE EXPORT MARKET, LONDON, CIRCA 1785

Details

A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND PASTE-SET STRIKING WALL CLOCK
MADE FOR THE EXPORT MARKET, LONDON, CIRCA 1785
CASE: ornamented with ormolu flowerhead garlands bordering four oval paterae composed of colorful pastes, the lower section mounted with laurel leaves above a clear paste-set pinecone finial
DIAL: the white enamel dial with paste-set bezel, Arabic five-minute markers to the outer edge, four subsidiary dials; Roman hours, ‘STRIKE / SILENT’, seconds and age of moon ‘1 – 29 1/2’, all with brass indicators
MOVEMENT: with quarter striking chain fusee verge escapement, the finely engraved foliate backplate with pierced balance cock and regulation dial
?the interior case backplate stamped ‘A R’ and the bell incised ‘R A’ for Retarde / Avance, with a printed and inscribed Ann and Gordon Getty Collection inventory label

13 in. (33 cm.) high, 10 in. (25.4 cm.) wide, 4 in. (10.2 cm.) deep

Provenance

Acquired from Jeremy Ltd., London, by Ann and Gordon Getty in 1994.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Elizabeth Seigel Vice President, Specialist, Head of Private and Iconic Collections

eseigel@christies.com +1 212 484 4812

Lot Essay

Although unsigned this vase-shaped wall clock is typical of the export work being produced in London at the end of the 18th century. It may well have previously been designed as a floral wall pocket, as sometimes found on Swiss clocks of the period, with foliate sprays further embellished in paste gems emanating from the top. Similar paterae and flowerhead mounts may be found on an ormolu casket, also unsigned, with multi-dial timepiece, sold from the Collections of Lily and Edmond J. Safra, Sotheby’s, New York, 19 October 2011, lot 701.

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