James Stratton
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Lot 53
A possibly unique late 17th century German silvered and gilt brass weight driven four sided clock or 'Saulenuhr' Andoni Riebengart, Passau, dated 1674
16 December 2015, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£40,000 - £60,000
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A possibly unique late 17th century German silvered and gilt brass weight driven four sided clock or 'Saulenuhr'
Andoni Riebengart, Passau, dated 1674
Surmounted by gilt brass figure wearing a Phrygian cap and fur cape, raised on a splayed base, bordered by silvered strapwork frets between turned finials, forming a canopy over the bells within a silvered arcade with further strapwork frets and turned finials, over the rectangular case with four Doric corner pilasters bordering silvered panels each engraved with flowers and foliage, the foremost panel signed along the lower edge 'Andoni Riebengart Meister Stvck in Passaw Anno 1674'.
The four sides each with a dial, the primary dial with gilt Roman chapter ring, concentric minutes and quarters, age of moon and moonphase aperture, the centre engraved with a townscape, the right side with quarter strike indication, the rear dial with outer gilt Roman dial with concentric quarters (twice I to IIII), day indication and deity aperture, the centre engraved with a second townscape, the left side with I-XII hour strike indication.
The posted frame three train weight driven movement with verge escapement to a cow tail pendulum, the top and bottom plates united by four substantial knopped pillars, supporting six frames with finely wrought polished steel uprights for the hour and quarter countwheel detents, hammer springs and stops. 55cm (21.5in)
Surmounted by gilt brass figure wearing a Phrygian cap and fur cape, raised on a splayed base, bordered by silvered strapwork frets between turned finials, forming a canopy over the bells within a silvered arcade with further strapwork frets and turned finials, over the rectangular case with four Doric corner pilasters bordering silvered panels each engraved with flowers and foliage, the foremost panel signed along the lower edge 'Andoni Riebengart Meister Stvck in Passaw Anno 1674'.
The four sides each with a dial, the primary dial with gilt Roman chapter ring, concentric minutes and quarters, age of moon and moonphase aperture, the centre engraved with a townscape, the right side with quarter strike indication, the rear dial with outer gilt Roman dial with concentric quarters (twice I to IIII), day indication and deity aperture, the centre engraved with a second townscape, the left side with I-XII hour strike indication.
The posted frame three train weight driven movement with verge escapement to a cow tail pendulum, the top and bottom plates united by four substantial knopped pillars, supporting six frames with finely wrought polished steel uprights for the hour and quarter countwheel detents, hammer springs and stops. 55cm (21.5in)
Footnotes
Literature:
J. Abeler, Meister der Uhrmacherkunst, Wuppertal, 1977, p.513.
H.M. Vehmeyer, Clocks, Their Origin and Development 1320-1880, Snoeck 2004. Item G43.
Provenance:
Formerly in the Honegger collection, Oerlikon, Switzerland.
The four dials indicate that this clock would have originally have been freestanding on a purpose made plinth that concealed the weights.
Vehmeyer notes that this is the only known surviving example of Riebengart's work and that the town represented may well be Passau.