Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 197

Attributed to Niklaus Brun, Basel. Made circa 1580. Very fine and important gilt brass and champlevé enamel Renaissance tabernacle clock with quarter- striking, striking indication dial, and alarm.

C. Two-tier bell rotunda with pierced arcading and eight finials, within a balustraded gallery with four strapwork engraved finials at each corner, pierced and engraved domed top supported by four winged griffon monopodiae, tapered finial, the casing with four out-set Corinthian pillars, the panels between engraved with a vase of flowers and strapwork, removable sides, the interior with foliate and flower engraving, molded and stepped base further engraved with strapwork and flowers, raised on four lioncouchant feet. D. 7 cm., silver meantime dial with radial Roman hour numerals, concentric inner Roman quarter-hour numerals, polychrome champlevé enamel bird and foliage decoration, inner gilt brass alarm disc with Arabic numerals, alarm silence lever above. Pierced brass hands. 7 cm. silver strike indication dial on the reverse with outer German style Arabic ring showing the last hour struck, concentric inner ring showing the last quarter struck, polychrome champleve enamel bird and foliage decoration. Pierced brass hands. M. Gilt brass with four posts, latches to the base, two trains mounted back-to-back with a central dividing plate, going barrels with engraved foliate decoration, brass wheels with blued steel pinions, verge escapement without spring, large steel foliot balance with hog's bristle limiting pins, small separate alarm train mounted to the side, striking on two bells in the rotunda. Movement punched NB on one post and on the base-plate. Dim. 37 x 18 x 17.5 cm.