Johann Straus

An extremely rare, very fine Viennese coach clock with quarter hour/hour strike - "Grande Sonnerie", quarter hour/hour repeating mechanism, alarm, date and indications of month and their length

Sold

estimated

19.000—40.000 €

Price realized

40.000 €

specific features

Case

Silver, "repoussé" decor, pierced rim, rear bell.

Dial

Silver, champlevé, radial Roman numerals, central turnable alarm disc, lever "N/S" to set strike/not strike for striking train, window for date at ''9'', window for month and length of the month indication.

Movement

Full plate movement, double chain/fusee for going train - and striking train, additional barrel for alarm, 3 hammers, verge escapement, silver regulator disc, release of the repeater via coaxial button in the pendant, three-arm brass balance.

Diam.112 mm

Circa1740

Ctry.Austria

Wt.1200 g

The exquisite repoussé detail on the back shows a scene from a Roman army camp: A mother holding the hand of her child is on her knees before a Roman commander. The openwork edge, which allows for a strong and clear tone, is decorated with exquisitely hand engraved volutes and animals as well as baroque-style cartouches with staffage figures. Represented are Pax, the personification of peace with cornucopia and palm leaf, Minerva goddess of war, Fama, the personification of fame and renown, and a Roman soldier. The openwork bezel is decorated with volutes and finely engraved animal vignettes (birds, lion, whale and dragon) which represent the four elements.

In Lukas Stolberg's reference book "Die Kutschenuhr" (The coach clock), watchmaker Simon Straus from Vienna is listed; he died in 1779. A coach clock by him is held in the Besançon Watch and Clock Museum. It is highly probable that our maker Johann Straus is a close relative, as the design features are similar. Maybe he was his father.