Lot 171

French, Height 120 mm, circa 1580
A rare tabernacle clock with hour strike
Case: brass, firegilt, engraved, square section, detachable dome and base. Dial: gilt, Roman numerals, engraved with foliage in the recessed center, single blued iron hand. Movm.: brass movement in two levels, gut/fusee for going train, barrel for striking train, 1 bell (hammer lacking), locking plate for strike mechanism, later balance and spring.
This is an incredibly rare, gilt brass table clock in the form of a French tabernacle clock, with a square layout and walls that are all-over engraved. Both sides are engraved with a vase and fantasy birds, back and front are decorated with flowers and tendrils. A small gothic-style window on the right side shows the movement. The detachable dome with urn finial is open-worked and ornamented with chased flowers, dolphins and volutes; the cupola is separated in four segments by diagonal straps. An urn sits in each corner of the tower. The winding arbors sit in the base, which is also detachable.