Lot 277

Egidius Lenck in Augsburg, Height 760 mm, circa 1790
An extremely rare and decorative figure pendulum clock "Chronos" made of gold-mounted wood, with astronomical "Pendule Mysterieuse" with full calendar and double time display, 8-day power reserve
Case: gilt brass. The wooden figure of Chronos was later custom made. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee, 2 barrels, verge escapement.
The front of the clock is finely decorated with engraved stylized foliate scrolls and ornaments. The box-shaped case has four dials: In the centre is a dial with Arabic hours and outer minute ring, on the left is a small enamel dial showing the moon age, with a regulating device next to it. On the right sits a small dial displaying the month and the number of days, with the date below. The upper part of the clock holds an ornamental pendulum-like rod that is lavishly engraved. It is surrounded by a blued chapter ring for the hours of the day and the night. The bottom part of the pendulum rod is shaped like a crescent. Driving the clock is an intricate verge movement with date indication and a fusee with two interlocking barrel cores. The strong force is needed for revolving the pendulum rod in front of the dial. The rod contains a mystery dial – although the rod only completes one revolution in 12 hours, the minute hand always shows the correct time, which means it revolves 12 times.