111st Auction

2024/11/16

Lot 136

Monogrammist "VG"

A round, single-handed horizontal table clock of museum quality, with alarm

Sold

estimated
3.0007.000 €
Price realized
11.900 €
specific features
Case
Firegilt brass case, elaborately engraved, open-worked sound holes for the bell.
Dial
Brass, firegilt, engraved hour chapter ring in two rows with radial Roman numerals I-XII and addittional inner hour chapter ring in two rows with Arabic numerals 13-24, later central alarm disc.
Movement
Round brass full plate movement, engraved foliage ornaments, monogrammed "VG" and dated 1675, additional open barrel for alarm, 1 hammer, stackfreed (stackfreed spring is missing), verge escapement, three-arm brass balance.
Diam.65 x 93 mm
Circa1675
Ctry.Germany


The cylinder-shaped gilt brass table clock features a remarkable engraved decoration and should be regarded as an exemplary testimony of life in the late 17th century. An openwork area in the upper third of the case serves as sound hole for the bell. Below an engraving with three areas separated by exquisitely engraved strawberry petals. The engravings show period arms such as lances, suits of armour, a mace, war scenes with drums and machetes, but also sociable scenes with musical instruments, playings cards, beer mugs and prunted beakers.
The clock was part of the collection Dr. Antoine-Feill in Hamburg and was sold for 300 Mark on March 24, 1955 at Kunst- und Auktionshaus Franz A. Menna in Cologne.