LATE 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY GUANGZHOU WORKSHOPS, QIANLONG DYNASTY (1736-1795)

Details

A CHINESE ORMOLU TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK WITH MUSICAL MOVEMENT
LATE 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY GUANGZHOU WORKSHOPS, QIANLONG DYNASTY (1736-1795)
The drum case supported by an elephant above stepped plinth, white enamel dial, the timepiece movement with four pillars, chain fusee, maintaining power, large cylinder escapement and plain steel balance wheel with five crossings, backplate engraved, gilded and signed with a 'nonsense' signature 'cutta weuttinais', jewelled/diamond end stone, the timepiece movement trips the musical movement every hour, musical movement with chain fusee, six bells, six hammers and playing three different tunes
15 ¾ in. (40 cm.) high; 11 ¼ in. (28.5 cm.) wide; 9 ¼ in. (23.5 cm.) deep

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

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Lot Essay

Whilst this clock shares many stylistic elements with Chinese made clock cases it also clearly shows the western design influence on the workshops of Guangzhou, particularly that of the London jeweller and goldsmith James Cox (c. 1723-1800). The elephant support to the paste-gem embellished drum case and the galleried stepped plinth on scroll feet may be compared to features on both a musical automaton clock from the Ilbert collection in the British Museum, London, and that sold Christie's, London, 5 July 2012, lot 21.

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