Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 13, 2016

LOT 378

BOAT AUTOMATON BRASS CLOCK French, circa 1870. Fine gilt brass half-hour and hour striking, automaton clock. Accompanied by a wooden base and a vintage photo of the clock and a winding key.

Circular wooden base, gilt-brass with foliate and marine decoration, central aperture with hand painted port view background, boat automaton Silver, Roman hour numerals, steel Breguet hands, outer minute track. Gilt brass circular, three train, fusees with chair, dead-boat pin-wheel escapement with steel pallet-piece; adjustable spring suspension pendulum with brass-cased weight, ebony rod and blocking system for transport. Striking on bell. Rod to activate the simple automaton scene of ship pitching and tossing on a sea. DIM. 57 x 42 x 20 cm.(with wooden base). This particular clock was part of the A. Bumbach store in Romont Switzerland. It was kept until the store closed and comes with a wonderful black and white photo of this clock probably dating from the 1920's showing it exactly as it still is today.