29th Jun, 2023 9:30
The June Fine Art & Antiques Auction
Estimate £600-£800
An early 20th-century constant force, 'Ferris Wheel' tumbling ball compendium timepiece/ thermometer/ barometer, c1900 with a floral swag painted "Arabic" dial with visible spring balance at 12 o'clock the other components of the compendium with conforming porcelain registers and bordered by foiled diamantes the case with Borghese style lion surmount, the gilt metal four-glass case with applied bands of pierced strawberry flowers and flush-fitted with a frieze drawer to collect the balls, supported on toupe feet. The clock comes with eighteen nickel-plated balls. 29 cm wide x 17 cm deep x 54 cm overall height.
A similar timepiece was known to be housed at the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was made around 1885 and given by the French government to the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Also a similar example is described and illustrated in Derek Roberts Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks p 74.
A clock of this model, exhibited at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, was the subject of an article in the Revue Chronométrique, (October 1900, pp 153-157) by the eminent horologist Mathieu Planchon.
Sold for £12,000
Condition Report
Damage to the side and front lenses and now gold painted.
The balance will run with encouragement but soon stops, the train can be seen to be complete
As with any old mechanical item, no warranty of accuracy or indeed reliability should be assumed when purchasing at auction
An early 20th-century constant force, 'Ferris Wheel' tumbling ball compendium timepiece/ thermometer/ barometer, c1900 with a floral swag painted "Arabic" dial with visible spring balance at 12 o'clock the other components of the compendium with conforming porcelain registers and bordered by foiled diamantes the case with Borghese style lion surmount, the gilt metal four-glass case with applied bands of pierced strawberry flowers and flush-fitted with a frieze drawer to collect the balls, supported on toupe feet. The clock comes with eighteen nickel-plated balls. 29 cm wide x 17 cm deep x 54 cm overall height.
A similar timepiece was known to be housed at the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was made around 1885 and given by the French government to the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Also a similar example is described and illustrated in Derek Roberts Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks p 74.
A clock of this model, exhibited at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, was the subject of an article in the Revue Chronométrique, (October 1900, pp 153-157) by the eminent horologist Mathieu Planchon.
