108th Auction

2023/5/20

Lot 299

George Seydell

An impressive Berlin hexagonal horizontal table clock with "Grande Sonnerie" and hour repeater

Sold

estimated
4.5007.000 €
Price realized
6.900 €
specific features
Case
Brass, profiled, florally engraved, screwed-on and glazed silver windows on the sides, string for repetition, 6 claw feet, 3 rear bells.
Dial
Brass, figural and floral engravings in the centre, outer ring with minutes and quarters.
Movement
Hexagonal brass movement, chain/fusee/barrel for going train, 3 barrels for striking trains, 3 engraved hammers, locking plate and control dial for striking train, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance.
Diam.160 x 140 x 85 mm
Circa1651
Ctry.Germany


The centre of the dial shows engraved period ornaments such as volutes, acanthus and flowers as well as the four elements represented by a swan, a soldier, a devil’s mask and an angel sounding the trumpet. The date 1651 has been placed at 6 o’clock near the edge of the dial.
Provenance: Sold at auction by Auktionshaus Lempertz, June 1973


Georg Seydell was a watch- and clockmaker who worked in Kölln an der Spree (Neukölln today, Berlin) in the mid 17th century. Some of his work can be seen at the British Museum in London and the "Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel" museum.