Inv. #G96

A very nice early 20th century miniature Swiss desk clock retailed by Asprey. The gilt-silver case has pink guioché enamel panels, with the engraved designs radiating from a central point, that are bordered by decorative gold bands and white enamel. The plain gilt-silver back has numerous marks that include the import and date marks for England in 1924, ‘JTC’, ‘935’, ‘10258’ and ‘Geneva Clock Co’. It sits upon a molded quartz base with a gilt-silver beaded band.

The oval gilt dial has an engraved center, a decorative silver bezel, diamond-mounted hands, Arabic numbers for the hours and is signed by the retailer, Asprey.

The extremely high quality jeweled eight-day movement is wound, set and adjusted through the shuttered back.

The firm Asprey always offered the highest quality pieces. They rivaled such firms as Cartier and Tiffany and are noteworthy for the consistently superb quality of their pieces.

Height - 2.5in.

Retail Price: On Request.

Inv. #G85

A very rare Austrian Louis XVI gesso, gilt and patinated bronze and gilt-wood figural tallcase clock by JM Schmit in Wien. The massive two tone gesso case has a square base with canted corners to the front that supports a clock on a stepped plinth flanked by a nearly full size figure of Urania above. The whole is adorned with numerous gilt-wood moldings and decorative elements that include military trophies on the doors, stylized butterflies to the sides, a pointer, star and large pharaoh and snake appliqués to the chamfered corners. The well-carved figure of Urania, dressed in flowing drapery, casually leans against the plinth and embraces the large blue sphere elaborately decorated with ormolu stars.

The silver engraved chapter ring dial has large Arabic numbers for the hours, Arabic numbers for the five-minute marks, is signed by the maker, ‘JM Schmit, Wien’ and has two very nicely cast ormolu hands.

The high quality eight-day quarter-striking movement is accessed through a hinged door in the back of the sphere, has two brass-bound un-compounded weights, a high quality dead-beat escapement, a pendulum suspended by spring, the screwed beat adjustment on the crutch and strikes on two large nested bells.

Ref:
In Greek mythology Urania was the muse of astronomy and astrology. She is usually depicted with a globe in one hand and a peg in her other.

During this time period Napoleon’s campaign had been to Egypt and the treasures with which he returned were both well received and enormously influential on the European decorative arts.

Height - 94in.

Retail Price: On Request.

Inv. #G81

A very nice 'Mahogany and Metal Base' ship's striking clock that was retailed by Bliss and made by Chelsea. The bronze case has a glazed hinged front door, a small enameled replica of the Memphis Yacht Club's flag and the engraved inscription, 'A Token of Friendship From the Boys of the Club, June 11, 1910' along the lower front edge and is screwed to a mahogany stand that still retains the original label on the bottom that reads 'Base or Support For Clock Patent April 18,1905.'

The silvered, engraved dial has Roman numerals for the hours, typical steel-cut hands and the fast slow lever above the retailer's inscription, 'John Bliss & Co., New York'. Interestingly the dial is not brass like the later examples, but a lead core veneered with a thin layer of copper in keeping with the methods and materials of the earlier clocks.

The eight-day time and ship's striking movement has a balance wheel escapement and is stamped with both the appropriate patent dates and the serial number, '59,328'.

Ref: According to the Chelsea records the serial number, '59328' dates the movement to 1910.

John Bliss was joined by his son in 1855 and established the firm 'John Bliss & Son' in New York. He died in 1857 and the name of the company was changed to 'John Bliss & Co' which endured for over a century.

Dial Size - 8.5in.

Retail Price: On Request

Inv. #G104

A good quality Edo period Japanese Shitan wood miniature pillar timepiece with original carrying case. The clock case is constructed from nicely grained and colored Shitan wood and retains both the drawer used to hold the original winding key and the original glazed removable hood with slide out front door.

The one-day, weight-driven brass movement is screwed to the backboard, has an engraved skeletonized front plate, a verge escapement regulated by a shaped brass balance wheel and has finely turned decorative corner and movement posts, wheelwork and arbors.

The scale, secured by hook at the bottom and screw at the top, has thirteen adjustable silvered engraved temporal 'hours'. The lead weight carries the shaped brass hand that points to the time as it descends through the day.

The vast majority of pillar clocks are over sixteen inches long. It is exceedingly rare to find such a wonderfully preserved example in a diminutive size with the original carrying case.

The characters on the case seem to make reference to the fact it contains an instrument that indicates the Royal time.

Height of Clock - 12.5in.

Retail Price: On Request.

Inv. #G54

A rare Edo period Japanese lacquered Mulberry wood pillar clock. The case, decorated with gold makie lacquer depicting scrolling foliage and 'mitsu' tomoe, is fitted with a drawer at the bottom for the original key and retains the original lift-off hood with removable front door.

The one-day, weight-driven brass movement is screwed to the backboard, has an engraved skeletonized front plate, a verge escapement regulated by a slender brass balance wheel and finely turned decorative corner and movement posts, wheelwork and arbors.

The black-lacquered two-sided scale is secured to the clock by two silvered brackets and has the temporal hours in gold lacquer. The lead weight carries the shaped brass hand that points to the time as it descends through the day.

Most likely the clock was originally furnished with seven two-sided scales. This would allow the owner to change the scales and thus regulate the clock as necessitated by the Japanese system of timekeeping. It is extraordinarily rare to find a pillar clock with the full compliment of scales unless it was originally fitted with storage compartments. Once the temporal hours were eliminated and Western time became the norm the extra scales became unnecessary and often were lost by subsequent generations.

The 'mitsu' tomoe reflects the threefold division of Shinto cosmology, and is said to represent the earth, the heavens, and humankind. It is also often associated with the Shinto war deity Hachiman and is sometimes referred to as the whirlpool. A tomoe-mon is a tomoe used as a kamon, or family crest, a device similar to a coat of arms. During the Edo period the use of crests exploded as the emperor's dictates required the Daimyo to maintain homes in both their home provinces and Edo and also to have their mon on all the things they carried in the processions between the two as to receive the proper respect during the trip. Many famous generals and daimyo used the 'mitsu' tomoe kamon including Utsunomiya, Yamamoto and Ujiie.

Height - 16.25in.

Retail Price: On Request.

Inv. #G36

A great small early 19th century animated picture frame clock. The finely painted oil on metal painting is in pristine condition and shows the villagers in varying pursuits of work and play on the banks of the river near the edge of the village. The waterwheel for the mill is animated and turns as the clock runs.

The one-day movement strikes on a gong and shows the time on the porcelain dial that is housed in the old church steeple. It runs the waterwheel by string and pulley from a pulley located on the same arbor as the contrate wheel.

The whole is in a wonderfully detailed gilt frame.

Overall size: 19.5in x 15.5in.

c. 1845 Japanese Watch in a Shitan Wood Inro Case.

Inv. #J8

A good quality Japanese inro watch with an ormolu movement and shitan wood case. The case is suspended by a cord, with a bone hook netsuke and a cloisone bead ojime, which passes through the side chanels and wraps around the base. It has a removeable top with a compartment for the key and a turned glazed bezel screwed to the front. The one-day movement has engraved passion flower fretwork plates front and rear, a going-barrel which is wound through the back, four finely turned posts, five spoke wheels throughout and a cylinder escapement. The escapement is mounted to the backplate, has a flat five spoke steel balance wheel, a flat hairspring, and a shaped fast slow lever. The turned convex dial has moveable numbers, two hands with the motion work located underneath and can be viewed from inside the case. The silvered engraved character plaques represent two sequences of nine to four with the two zodiac symbols for the number nine used to represent midnight and noon. Although the movement exhibits strong ties to European traditions the workmanship and metalwork are definitely Japanese.

Height of movement - 2.25in.
Height of case - 2.75in.

c.1935 American 16-inch Library Globe with Mahogany Stand by Replogle, Chicago.

Inv. #G20

A very nice pre-World War II 16-inch library globe made by Replogle. The large globe is extremely detailed and includes distances between major cities, currents in the larger bodies of water, a detailed labeling of the topography and is signed and dated by the manufacturer.

This particular model has a fully numbered cast meridian and not only spins, but can also be rotated upwards to examine the South Pole. The globe is cradled in an exceptionally well made mahogany Regency-style stand with patinated brass claw feet.

Replogle Globes was founded in 1930 by Luther Irwin Replogle. Originally located in Chicago, Illinois, they developed the concept of 'a globe in every home.'

Height - 39in.

Retail Price: On Request.