Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 28, 2014

LOT 504

CHINESE MUSICAL, ACROBAT, WATERFALL & FISH AUTOMATON TABLE CLOCK Chinese, probably Guangzhou workshops, Jiaqing period (1796-1820), made in the early 19th century. Very fine and extremely rare, musical and automaton , quarter-striking, inlaid wood and gilt-brass, center-seconds table clock with double wheel duplex escapement, the music with twelve hammers on bells, the automatons with five actions including acrobat, playing on the hour or at will.

HKD 400,000 - 600,000

USD 51,000 - 78,000 / CHF 46,000 - 68,000

Sold: HKD 500,000

In three tiers, rectangular base with brass inlaid stylized flowerheads and foliage, the front glazed to view the automaton scene of a river flowing before a waterfall composed of rotating silver-lined glass rods and jumping carp in the river, painted figures of the eight immortals of Ba Xian standing in line in front of the waterfall, painted landscape surround and figures and goats in the foreground, brass top with pierced gallery, rectangular pedestal with mirrored sides and gilt-brass scroll corner mounts, the front with glazed aperture for viewing the acrobat rising and rotating on a parallel bar supported by two further figures, flanked on both sides by a revolving disc mounted with four standing Chinese figures reflected in the mirrors, wave-scroll feet, drum-shaped casing for the clock above, the sides inlaid with brass flowerheads, ribbon, branch and peal swag mounts, gilt finial of a crowing cockerel on scroll supports, gilt bezel. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minutes and second divisions, Arabic fifteen second numerals. Gilt hands with pierced tips. CLOCK Circular brass plates, going barrels for both trains, brass platform with double-wheel duplex escapement, monometallic balance with timing screws, flat balance spring, index regulator, striking with two hammers on two bells. MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON MOVEMENT rectangular brass plates, massive going barrel, fly governor, brass pinned cylinder acting on 12 hammers playing on a nest of 12 bells, the automatons geared by a system of rods and levers activated when the music plays.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-14-29

Good

Damaged

Lacking elements
Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-71-01-08

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines

HANDS Original

HANDS Repaired

Notes

DIM. 68 x 37 x 22 cm. LITERATURE LIAO PIN (editor), Clocks and Watches of the Qing Dynasty, From the Collection in the Forbidden City, Beijing, 2007 LU YANGZHEN (senior editor), Timepieces Collected by the Qing Emperors in the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995 Magnificent Clocks for the Chinese Imperial Court from the Nezu Museum, CHRISTIE'S, Hong Kong, 27 May 2008 Details of musical and automata This very rare clock is one of only a few known examples with acrobat automaton, in addition four further automatons are incorporated within the clock, the acrobat is flanked on each side by a rotating disc mounted with standing Chinese figures which are reflected in the mirrored side panels of the case as they turn. In the base housing the musical movement is a complex diorama with a waterfall composed of rotating glass rods in front of which stand the eight immortals, in front a river where fish jump from the water. Other recorded examples of 'acrobat' clocks include a Chinese enamel tier-form clock in the Palace Museum (see Lu Yangzhen, p. 55) and another paste-set ormolu example, also tier form, sold from the Nezu Collection (£495,000). An English tortoiseshell musical clock with acrobat figure above the dial by Thomas Hunter may be seen in the Palace Museum (p. 134).