Restoration period gilded bronze automaton clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1820
This lot presents an automaton mantel clock dating to the Restoration period, circa 1820. Standing 46 cm tall, the clock case is made of gilded bronze and decorated with maritime and aquatic relief ornament, notably dolphins flanking the circular clock dial, acanthus scrolls, and a scallop shell centerpiece.
Surmounting the clock is an automaton mechanism depicting a three-masted ship sailing atop stylized waves beside a walled coast with a tower. The auction house reports a striking movement in working order, noting that the ship requires reattachment. The piece is accompanied by an inlaid wooden base, a glass dome, and winding keys.
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
- Novelty & automaton clock
- Height
- 46 cm
- Case Material
- Gilded bronze
- Period and Date
- Restoration period, circa 1820
- Automaton Feature
- Three-masted ship and wave automaton
- Movement Mechanism
- Striking movement
Design
- Visible features
- • The gilded bronze case is topped by an automaton setting depicting a miniature three-masted ship with pennants and an architectural tower structure. • The clock body features flanking relief dolphins, foliate feet, and a central shell ornament beneath the dial. • The clock rests on an inlaid wooden base, accompanied by three keys and a clear glass display dome.
- Accessories and Cataloguing Limits
- Observation of the lot shows that the clock rests on an inlaid wooden base, accompanied by three keys and a clear glass display dome. The overall height of the clock itself is stated as 46 cm ('H:46cm'). No maker, workshop, or specific geographic place of origin is recorded in the source listing or visible on the clock dial. Attributions of nationality or unlisted mechanical details are absent from the record.
- Movement and Seller Reported Condition
- The clock movement is recorded in the source text as a striking movement ('mvt à sonnerie'). The auction house notes that the clock is in working order ('En état'), though this operational assessment is seller-reported and not independently tested. The source listing specifically cautions that the vessel component requires repair or reattachment ('bateau à refixer').
- Object Identity and Automaton Composition
- The auction catalog designates the clock as an 'Importante pendule automate en bronze doré d'époque Restauration circa 1820', describing it as an automaton clock in gilded bronze standing 46 cm tall. The automaton staging atop the clock is catalogued as depicting a three-masted ship and wave ('automate trois mâts et vague'). Visual inspection confirms that the gilded bronze case is topped by an automaton setting depicting a miniature three-masted ship with pennants and an architectural tower structure. The clock body features flanking relief dolphins, foliate feet, and a central shell ornament beneath the dial.
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 listing notes that the boat needs to be refixed ('bateau à refixer').
- Research required: Working condition ('En état') is asserted by the auction house but remains unverified independently.
- Research required: No maker or specific regional attribution is provided in the listing text or on the visible dial.