Vergoldete Automaten-Turmuhr mit Glockenschlag,... Lot n° 64

Height: 44 cm. Base width 27 cm. Depth: 23 cm. Probably Augsburg, around 1630. Fire-gilt bronze, iron, steel, silver and silver plating. Spindle movement in iron and iron cut, spring movement in steel, polished. Spring winding by means of a key. The side panels removable, allowing a view of the movement and springs. The hour striking movement is connected to the hunting figures of the top, circling to the right. The quarter strike is also connected to the two hounds sitting outside the pavilion, which rise up and down as they strike. This sophistication performs a lively show scene, corresponding to a figural carillon. The construction is tower-shaped, as in several famous Augsburg examples, on an ebonized base and another gilded case base in floral relief, above which the rectangular tower rises. At the corners fluted corner pilasters with volute capitals and high bases with prominent diamond rustication. The crowning top tapers upward, articulated in three parts. It starts with an openwork cornice, with insight to the two bells. At the corners, four pyramidal tops, with balusters between them, surround the round, two-tiered top. In the first level, figures are visible in the openings, circling at the stroke of the bells - a stag figure pursued by an archer accompanied by dogs. Next to it, on both sides, two small dogs, which rise when the bell rings. The figurines are made of silver casting. The upper top, in the form of a round pavilion, contains inside a standing human figure with deer antlers, turning. It refers to Actaeon, the mythical hunter who was transformed into a stag by Diana, the goddess of hunting. The arched dome crown is topped by a sculptural figure of the god Hermes, also gilded, with a winged petasos and winged shoes. All four sides of the tower case are decorated in fine engraving technique with C-arches, leaf volutes and blossoms and set with round dials or function indicators: On the front, the primary dial with bordered dial ring, silvered (dark patina) as 24-hour chapter ring with Roman hours and 5-minute interval indicator. Alarm setting dial, Latin inscribed for sunrise, noon and sunset. The three hands blued. On the sides, subdials indicating the last quarter hours and hours struck. On the back, another 24-hour chapter ring, also enclosing a gilded volvelle, with indication of the phases of the moon, further with diagram of the Ptolemaic planetary aspects; the alarm dial with 24-hour indication and Latin inscriptions for sunrise, noon, sunset and night. An example very similar to the present clock, at least in construction, was created by the Augsburg clockmaker Matthias Greylach. Not tested for functionality. A.R. Provenance: Masterpieces from the Time Museum, Sotheby's, New York, December 2, 1999, lot 50. Literature: Peter Frieß/ Eva Langenstein (eds.), Mechanik aus der Wunderkammer, Die Vorläufer der Computer, on the occasion of an exhibition at the 41st German Art and Antiques Fair, November 28-December 4, 1996, catalog of the Deutsches Museum Bonn - in conversation with science and technology, Munich 1996. Jürgen Abeler, Meister der Uhrmacherkunst, Wuppertal 2010. Richard Mühe/ Horand M. Vogel, Old Clocks. Ein Handbuch europäischer Tischuhren, Wanduhren und Bodenstanduhren, Munich 1976 (with illustration of a turret clock). (†) (1322017) (11) Gilt automat "Türmchenuhr" with strike on bell, alarm and moving figures with hunting theme Height: 44 cm. Base width: 27 cm. Depth: 23 cm. Probably Augsburg, ca. 1630. Fire-gilt bronze, iron, steel, silver, and silver plating. The structure is tower-shaped, as are several famous Augsburg examples, on an ebonized base and a further gilt-base decorated with floral reliefs surmounted by a rectangular tower. The corners are decorated with pilasters with volute capitals and tall bases with prominent diamond rustication. The top-most part tapers upwards and is divided into three parts: it starts with an openwork cornice revealing two bells on the inside. There are four pyramid-shaped attachments at the corners, with balusters in between that surround the round, two-tiered top part. The first level reveals cast silver figurines in the openings that circle when the clock chimes: a deer pursued by an archer accompanied by dogs. Next to it on either side are two small dogs, which rise at the chime of the bell. The upper part is shaped like a round pavilion with a revolving human figure with deer antlers inside. This is Actaeon, the mythical hunter who was transformed into a stag by the hunting goddess Diana. The arched, openwork calotte at the top of the dome is surmounted by a three-dimensional gilt-figure of the god Hermes with winged