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Lot 1022
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A rare French gilt metal mantel clock with Chappe semaphore automata
A rare French gilt metal mantel clock with Chappe semaphore automata
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Description:

A rare French gilt metal mantel clock with Chappe semaphore automata
early 19th century, the case in the form of a rectangular tower, the front decorated to simulate stonework with creeping ivy and flowers, surmounted by a semaphore tower with working signalling arms, which spell out the semaphore inventor's name 'C-H-A-P-P-E' in semaphore on the hour, on a velvet covered plinth to an ebonised, gilt lined base on bracket feet, the 3in. white enamel dial with blue Roman numerals and blued steel moon hands, above a recessed, arched painted panel depicting two windmills in a rural landscape, the blades moving as the clock strikes, the circular clock movement with off-set silk suspension clearing the mechanism for the automata above, with outside countwheel striking the hours and half hours on a bell, 21¼in. (54cm.) high to top of semaphore tower.
* Provenance: Bonhams New Bond Street, Fine Clocks sale, 12th Dec. 2012, Lot 15

  • Condition: The clock winds and runs and the front automata windmill blades turn when the clock strikes. The semaphore function has not been tested as the cotton threads operating the semaphore have become twisted whilst in storage and the top pulley threads are overlapping incorrectly, with one trapped behind the pulley. It will need some careful work to disentangle them and set them up correctly again. The case has probably been restored and refinished at some stage, and there is a spot of corrosion to the lower section of the 'stone' front plate. The painted arch appears largely original, with some paint flakes and retouching/overpainting to the top of the arch. Windmill blades probably repainted. Velvet faded and some marks and scratching to base. Lacks dome. Winding key for semaphore mechanism is present - the winding lug is slightly bent but the key does fit if carefully angled. Clock mechanism key not present. Several hairlines to dial running vertically.

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26 May 2023 10:00
Guernsey, United Kingdom

Martel Maides

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 21% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

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£30 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £319 £20
£320 £379 £30
£380 £419 £20
£420 £479 £30
£480 £519 £20
£520 £579 £30
£580 £619 £20
£620 £679 £30
£680 £699 £20
£700 £1,499 £50
£1,500 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £3,199 £200
£3,200 £3,799 £300
£3,800 £4,199 £200
£4,200 £4,799 £300
£4,800 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £14,999 £500
£15,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £31,999 £2,000
£32,000 £37,999 £3,000
£38,000 £41,999 £2,000
£42,000 £47,999 £3,000
£48,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £319,999 £20,000
£320,000 £379,999 £30,000
£380,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £1,499,999 £50,000
£1,500,000 + £100,000