Important Watches, Wristwatches and c...

Tokyo, Dec 15, 1989

LOT 574

Anonymous, South Germany, circa 1600. Highly important gilt bronze astronomical table clock with Astrolab, a good example from the same design as made by the celabrated Jeremias Metzker in Augsburg circa 1560.

The clock is in the form of a tower engraved overall with scrolls, flowers and birds, the bells on the top within the dome, are visible through the galery. Silver chapter ring on the front face showing twice 12 hours in Roman numerals with an inner Arabic ring numbered from 1 to Z4 in the German way, outer gilt brass revolving annual calendar ring on which on one side is shown the name of the saint for each day of the first six month of the year, for the last six month on the reverse, inner indication of the length of the day with the variable horizon. Subsidiary silver champlevé enamelled dials for the days of the week with the indication of their planet and the signs of the zodiac. Silver dial on the right panel for the striking indication on 12 or 24 hours with a fine inner champleve enamelled decoration of flowers and birds. Symetrical silver dial on the left panel for the quarter hour striking indication. The astrolab on the rear face with an outer silver chapter ring showing 24 hours in Roman numerals, the gilt brass horizon plate is drawn on one face for 48° latitude (Paris, Strasbourg, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna), on the reverse for 51° (Leipzig, Gent, Ostende, Wuppertal) the rate carries the names of 23 stars with their pointers. Subsidiary silver dial on the left for the age of the moon, the dominical letter and the golden number. An other silver chapter ring on the right with Roman numerals for the AM hours, Arabic numerals for the PM hours with a gilt brass revolving alarum setting disc. Two extra small dials allow to set the clock to strike on six hours in the Italian way, on 12 hours in the French way or on 24 hours in the German way. Posted frame gilt brass three train movement with square pillars, the going train with fu-see and gut line, verge escapement with a balance wheel foliot, the quarter striking train is independant from that of the hours, both with fusee and gut line and locking plates. However in good condition the piece presents some evidence of restorations comming to its age, the gilt brass repoussé base is a later addition. Once set with a pendulum, the clock is now reestablished with a foliot. Dim.: 43x28.5x22.5 cm.