Chinese fountain clock Zimingzhong or self-ringing... Lot 289

Chinese fountain clock Zimingzhong or self-ringing bell Gilded and chased bronze, coloured glass, enamel QING Dynasty, Daoguang period, Attributable to the Guangzhou workshops Gilt and chased bronze, coloured glass, enamel First half 19th century, probably from the Guangzhou workshops, Case in three levels: - the lower quadripod part, decorated with applied foliage, houses the movement. The white enamel dial is framed by coloured glass. It is surmounted by a rectangular box with a mirror background where an automaton of characters, ducks and other birds is animated. The painted metal decoration represents an undergrowth. On the background are reflected the animated characters. It should be noted that this extremely complicated mechanism is never found on later copies of this type of clock. - On the second floor, four fantastic animals form a canopy that protects a glass waterfall. The flow of water is simulated by the rotating and individual movement of each of the twisted glass columns. - Above, a central rose is placed, surrounded by ten daisies. All the elements are rotating when the clock is animated. - The clock is surmounted by a baluster vase inlaid with the characters 'Da ji' (good fortune) in Chinese Height: 100 cm The emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) was a passionate collector of all types of watches, clocks and automata. He had many European and Chinese clocks in his collection. The fashion for Western clocks quickly spread from the court to the imperial notables, and the most sought-after models were inspired by the musical clocks and automata of the English clockmaker James Cox, many of which were exported to China in the late 18th century. Subsequently, Chinese clockmakers developed their own models. Some workshops were even set up in the imperial palaces. Clocks, objects of great prestige, became objects of pomp and prestige, sometimes diplomatic gifts. Note: Ian White, "English Clocks for the Eastern Markets...", 1580-1815, Ticehurst, 2012, ch. 8. Close model. Clock in the Patricia Kluge collection - sold at Sotheby's 8 June 2010 New York Forbidden City Collection - Beijing Condition : Mechanism to be reviewed, Mechanism perhaps later, gilded, hands attached, without key.