Grande orologio a teca con quadrante dipinto e automi
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1851
This wall clock, cataloged as a large case clock with a display case, originates from France and dates to 1851. The construction features a large oil painting on a panel that depicts the Crystal Palace in London, referencing the work of George Hawkins.
The clock section, positioned at the top of the frame, incorporates an enamel dial featuring Roman numerals in blue and is fitted with gilded bronze hands. The piece includes an integrated automaton mechanism designed to simulate figures walking through the park surrounding the Crystal Palace. The timekeeping movement is specified as having a 15-day power reserve, with a strike train that sounds on the hour and half-hour using a gong.
The overall structure measures 94 cm in height, 120 cm in width, and 20 cm in depth, and it includes a pendulum.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Wall clock with automatons
- Maker
- Tharin Paris
- Dating
- 1851
- Dimensions
- 94 cm x 120 cm x 20 cm
- Strike Train
- Hour and half-hour on gong
- Place recorded
- France
- Automata Function
- Simulated movement in the park
- Painting Reference
- George Hawkins
- Maker / attribution
- Tharin Paris
- Movement Power Reserve
- 15 days
Design
- Visible features
- • Enamel dial with blue Roman numerals • Gilded bronze hands • Oil painting on panel depicting the Crystal Palace • Ornate gilded frame surround
- Case and Painting
- The object is housed within a large wall-mounted structure described as a display case. The visual centerpiece is a significant oil painting on a panel, which captures a perspective of the Crystal Palace in London as it appeared in 1851. The composition is noted as being based upon the work of the artist George Hawkins. The frame surrounding the painting and the clock is finished in a gilded, ornate style. The clock dial is positioned within the upper portion of this decorative framework. The entire assembly measures 94 cm in height by 120 cm in width, with a depth of 20 cm, presenting the painting and the automaton scene as a unified horological installation.
- Reported Condition
- The documentation provided by the auction house specifies that the object is in need of professional attention. Both the clock and the automaton components require a mechanical service, or 'revision,' to be fully operational. The painting depicts the original Crystal Palace structure, which is noted as having been destroyed in a 1936 fire, emphasizing the historical subject matter captured in the 1851 artwork. No other condition reports regarding the painting surface or the gilded frame were provided in the auction data.
- Clockwork and Automata
- The horological component of this object is a wall-mounted clock signed by Tharin Paris. The clock features an enamel dial characterized by blue Roman numerals and is equipped with gilded bronze hands. The movement provides a 15-day power reserve and includes a striking mechanism that marks the hours and half-hours on a gong. The pendulum is present with the unit. The object incorporates an automaton display, which is integrated with the scene depicted in the primary oil painting. These mechanical figures are designed to move, simulating people walking within the grounds of the Crystal Palace during the 1851 Universal Exhibition in London. The auction description notes that the automaton mechanism is currently functional but requires technical revision to ensure proper operation.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The auction description reports the clock requires revision
- Research required: The auction description reports the automaton mechanism requires revision