DUVAL, PARIS, NO.51. CIRCA 1860

Details

A Napoleon III brass, gilt-brass and gilt-wood striking mystery clock
Duval, Paris, No.51. Circa 1860
The front glass dial with painted Roman chapters, gilt-brass arrow hand, secured to the rear glass and rotated by indirect bevel gears to the eight day movement in the base below, with circular plates stamped DUVAL/A PARIS, with spring barrels and silk suspension to the front plate, countwheel strike on bell to underside of plates, the case with addorsed griffins supporting the dial, the base with cherub and foliate mount applied to the front, the rear stamped BREVET D'INVENTION and with wind and hand-set apertures, the cover stamped 51 on the inside, on shell-carved giltwood and composition stand; pendulum, with associated ebonised plinth, under glass dome
16 1/3 in. (41.5 cm.) high, excluding plinth and dome

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
The design of the present clock relates to those of the second series produced by Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin from circa 1837 onwards. See Derek Roberts, Mystery, Novelty and Fantasy Clocks, Schiffer 199, pp.223-225 and figs 19-7,8. See also Tardy, French Clocks, Part III Paris 1982, p.138.

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