Lot n° 6
Estimation :
15000 - 20000
EUR
Result without fees
Result
: 16 500EUR
Large self-winding clock in chased, engraved and gilded copp - Lot 6
Large self-winding clock in chased, engraved and gilded copper, in the form of a bollard surmounted by a rotunda with a reperced capital supported by columns around which hunters turn; the cylinder housing the gong with ashlar arcatures; The bollard is richly decorated with crosses, foliage and foliate scrolls, punctuated at the corners by fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals; the base has a recessed base with flower reserves alternating with vases laden with bouquets. Small pastille feet. One of the plates protecting the mechanism is engraved "Deodatus Abbas Serachius Olim Urbani VIII Pont M Familiaris Intimus Horologium Hoc Illmo Marchioni ac Comiti D Io Bapt e Serbellono quem una cum Comite D. Fabritio eius Fratre An. Jub. MDCL non magis hospicio domi quam cordis excepit dano dedit ut sicut index est temporis ita eterni obse quy in ipsum indicem tradat" which can be translated as: "Déodat abbé de Serachius, once the most intimate of Pope Urbain VIII's family, gave this clock to the illustrious Marquis and Count D. Baptiste Serbellon, and to his brother, Count D. Fabrice, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the year 1650. He gave it not only as an indicator of time, but also as a witness to eternity, so that it might guide our thoughts towards the same destiny."
The main dial with rosette shows the hours in Roman and Arabic numerals, and the minutes by a blued steel hand; a second dial on the other side marks the striking reading. Germany, mid-17th century (restorations and
modifications).
H. 40 cm - W. 20 cm - D. 20 cm
Provenance :
Collection of Monsieur D.
The composition of this rare table clock is typical of the best Germanic designs of the 17th century. First appearing in the 16th century, the most luxurious clocks of this type were mounted in cases finely chased with ornaments in the shape of milestones, temples or animals; the most elaborate clocks had mechanisms enabling an automaton function with moving figures, such as the example we offer. They were
the symbol of their owners' power and wealth, and featured prominently in their collections, often in ceremonial rooms or curiosity cabinets. The brass inscription engraved on one of the side plates seems to indicate that it belonged to a certain Déodat abbé de Serachius, one of Pope Urbain VIII's closest friends; its two dials, one indicating the hours and minutes, the other reading the strike, fit perfectly into the architectural case.
Last but not least, among the known models built in the same spirit, we can cite a few examples preserved at the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum in Furtwangen, which are part of the permanent exhibition "Luxe
et précarité de la vie, Renaissance et Baroque" exhibition, as well as a model that appears on a table in the background of a portrait of Queen Marie-Anne of Austria in the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Finally, a last example was exhibited in 2014 among thirty other automaton clocks at the Galerie J. Kugel during the "Un bestiaire mécanique, Horloges et automates de la Renaissance" exhibition.
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