Lot 271

Anonymous

Historically interesting monstrance case of high aristocratic provenance with later added contemporary movement by the Passau clockmaker Josephus Jans (1680-1760) and reconstructed dial with engravings of the very highest quality

The circular body has florally engraved sound holes in the shape of flowers on the back side and around the edge and a large bell on the inside; the movement is lacking. The corpus is flanked by flower side frets and is surmounted by a figural finial. It rests on a baluster shaft above a hexagonal ripple-moulded tortoiseshell-veneered wooden plinth base with a key drawer on six bun feet. On the underside is a rectangular paper label with the inscription Schloß Eisgrub./Obj.-Nr. I/25, Inv.-Nr. 296.
In the course of extensive restoration measures, a contemporary movement and a reconstructed dial of more recent date were subsequently installed in the case to bring the clock back to its originally planned condition.
The movement originates from a hexagonal horizontal table clock, presumably from around 1710, and was made by the Passau clockmaker Josephus Jans (1680-1760). An almost identical horizontal table clock can be found in the Schottenstift in Vienna.
Remnants of the dial of Josephus Jans' horizontal table clock were also used and placed as an ornament in the centre. The other parts of the dial are more recent, but of exceptionally high quality. Following the historical model, a silver dial ring with Roman hours "I-XII" and Arabic hours "13-24" was placed on the outside, followed by a gilded brass dial ring with beautifully executed signs of the zodiac.
Most monstrance clocks were ordered by high members of the clergy and are therefore always unique pieces of great value. A draft of the design had to be made; more requirements included hour and quarter hour strike, alarm, verge escapement, and many other indications. Apprentices usually had no money and often indebted themselves heavily for their masterpiece, especially since the making of a unique piece also required the appropriate special tools. Since such a clock quite easily cost the equivalent of four times the annual salary of a senior civil servant at the time, wealthy buyers were extremely sought-after.

Provanance:
- Sold in an auction at Christie's, Amsterdam, "Property from the Collection of the Princely House of Liechtenstein", April 1st 2008, lot 179
- Distinguished private collection in Vienna
The monstrance case was located in Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein until 2008 and was in the possession of Franz Josef II, Prince of Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count zu Rietberg (*16 August 1906 at Frauenthal Castle, Styria, Austria; died 13. November 1989), the first son of Prince Alois, Prince of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria and father of the now reigning Prince Hans Adam II (full name: Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d'Aviano Pius, Prince of Liechtenstein; *14 February 1945 in Zurich, Switzerland).
The previous owner was Aloysia Maria Gabriela Hyppolita, Princess von und zu Liechtenstein and Countess Fünfkirchen (born 13 August 1838 at Eisgrub Castle / Lednice; died 17 April 1920 in Vienna). Aloysia was a daughter of Alois II. Maria Joseph Johann Baptista Joachim Philipp Nerius, Prince von und zu Liechtenstein (1796-1858) and his wife Franziska a born Countess Kinsky von Wchinitz and Tettau (1813-1881).
Aloysia married Count Heinrich Fünfkirchen in Vienna on May 22, 1864, the marriage remained childless. She is buried next to her husband in the family crypt in Stützenhofen.
Aloysia was known for her social commitment. In 1904 she founded the station mission Vienna, now a Caritas institution, to care for the homeless and the needy.
Source: https://second.wiki/wiki/aloysia_von_liechtenstein, as of 10/06/2021.
The Principality of Liechtenstein can be traced back to 1136 and is considered the oldest noble family still ruling in Europe. The Princes of Liechtenstein gained importance as diplomats under the Habsburgs in the Holy Roman Empire. The rich cultural exchange between the possessions in Austria, Moravia and the Empire culminated in numerous castles and great art treasures that were collected and inherited over the centuries.