A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 1
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 2
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 3
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 4
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 5
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 6
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 7
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 8
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 9
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 10
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 11
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 12
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 13
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 14
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 15
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 16
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 17
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 18
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 19
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 20
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 21
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 22
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 23
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 24
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 25
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET - photo 26

A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET

Lot 8
20.10.2022 18:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 693 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 819782
Lot 8 | A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
Estimate value
$ 500 000 – 800 000
A GEORGE III ORMOLU, ENAMEL AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TOWER CLOCK, PROBABLY MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET

JOHN MOTTRAM, LONDON, CIRCA 1780

CASE: composed in the form of a four-tier pagoda, the top adorned with an obelisk finial and the upper three tiers enclosing potted pineapple plants, all mounted with colored pastes, the lower part centered at the front by the circular clock dial, each side inset with a blue enamel panel partitioned with ormolu and blue paste studded borders enclosing polychrome floral and foliate garlands enhanced with colored pastes and centered by scenes of a floral bouquet over a lush garden, raised on splayed foliate feet, top section of obelisk finial probably lacking, with printed and inscribed Ann and Gordon Getty Collection inventory label

DIAL: with a pink paste-set bezel and convex glass to white enamel 5 inch dial with Roman hours and Arabic five minute markers, with two gilt spade hands and a blued-steel center seconds hand, adjusted by an ormolu knob centered below the dial

MOVEMENT AND AUTOMATON: with a dead-beat pin wheel escapement, probably quarter-striking, both the clock movement and automaton with fusees, the four-tune musical pin barrel activating twelve hammers on ten bells, the enamel tune selection dial signed JOHN MOTTRAM, LONDON and numbered 1-4, when powered the paste-set finial and potted pineapple plants revolve while music plays

42 in. (106.7 cm.) high, 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide, 12 in. (30.5 cm.) deep





Provenance

The collection of Miss Derry, by 1934;

Thence by descent to her niece, by 1968, until sold;

Anonymous sale; Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London, 12 December 1980, lot 60.

Acquired from Jeremy Ltd., London, by Ann and Gordon Getty in 1981.





Literature

K. Harding, 'The Musical Clock the Emperor Never Heard', Clocks, 1983, pp. 31-34.

I. White, English Clocks for the Eastern Markets, English Clockmakers Trading in China & the Ottoman Empire 1580-1815, Sussex, Antiquarian Horological Society, 2012, fig. 8.35a-b.

Dr. P. Bevan, The Pagoda Clock at Anglesey Abbey, Postdoctoral Fellowship: British Inter-University China Centre, University of Manchester, and the National Trust, 2015, pp. 1-39.



Special notice


Please note this lot will be moved to Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services (CFASS in Red Hook, Brooklyn) at 5pm on the last day of the sale. Lots may not be collected during the day of their move to Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services. Please consult the Lot Collection Notice for collection information. This sheet is available from the Bidder Registration staff, Purchaser Payments or the Packing Desk and will be sent with your invoice.
Applied technique:Ormolu
Medium:Acrylic glass, Enamel, Gold, Plastic
Historical era:Georgian period
Place of origin:Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom
Auction house category:Clocks - Furnishings
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
20.10.2022 – 20.10.2022
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