EXTRAORDINARY LANTERN PENDULUM CLOCK, CHAMBERS... Lot 46

EXTRAORDINARY LANTERN PENDULUM CLOCK, CHAMBERS SECOND HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY in the shape of a parallelepiped, resting on four bell feet, corners with small columns and pinnacles at the side of the bell, On the front plate pewter dial with 12 o'clock hour indication in engraved Roman numerals, hand with lily-shaped apex. Above the dial is engraved a cartouche with the maker's name, while below, a relief cartouche bears the letters A.C.I. On both sides, small doors decorated with engraved heraldic coats of arms open, giving access to the inner mechanism. Rod escapement regulated by pendulum. Double train of wheels. Measures 17 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm. Splendid and decidedly rare example of a clock signed by the Turinese maker Camerini, of which other examples similar to ours are known. One specimen is in the Science Museum in London (dated 1656; inv. 1954-0185), one in the Smithsonian Institut in Washington (dated 1662; published in G. Brusa, L'arte dell'orologeria in Europa, Milan 1978, p. 418, figs. 290-291), one in a private German collection, and one in the collection of Palazzo Madama. A fourth clock, bearing the coat of arms of the Vannutelli-Chaurand family, originally from the Lyon area and moved in the late 17th century to Sospello with members in the service of the Duke of Savoy, was sold in 1998 in Geneva by the auction house Antiquorum (auction No. 90, dated 18-4-1998, lot 365)