A significant, complicated Renaissance figure clock, ‘Standing Lion’

Ca. 35 cm high, bronze, gilt, ebonised wood. Dial: silver, with polychrome cloisonné enamel inlays, inlaid Roman and Arabic numerals, iron hands. Movement: brass and iron movement, stamped master’s mark ‘MD’ within the coat of arms, profiled, stepped iron pillars, brass gear train, verge escapement, brass wheel detent, lock disc, going train with gut string and fusee, additional barrel for striking mechanism, strikes a bell, movement intact. The automaton: The figure of the lion is crafted from fire-gilt bronze. When the hour strike is triggered, a mechanism is set in motion: the lion moves its eyes in time with the balance wheel and opens its mouth in synchronisation with the strike. For technical details, please request a condition report. The hammer price includes 19% German VAT! This means that the price will be reduced by 19% for buyers with a delivery address outside the EU. Provenance: Private collection, USA; sold at the 79th Dr Crott auction for ca. €90,000. This is one of the most significant and rarest Renaissance table clocks. An identical sister clock fetched 174,000 Swiss francs at Koller in Zurich. A total of just four such clocks are known to exist! The clock is illustrated in *Die Welt als Uhr – Deutsche Automatenuhren 16./17.Jh.*.

Estimate:£33,977.2

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