Datei:Jacques François Houdin 1836. (3).jpg

Jacques François Houdin - clockmaker, Les Frères Montandon - springmaker. The extremely well-cast and finished ormolu and patinated bronze case has elaborate mounts that include feeding birds amongst scrolling foliage to the front corners, a two piece decorative scalloped molding, winged dragons flanking a grotesque mask below and above an oriental magician in traditional garb standing behind a table draped with a fringed carpet adorned with decorative 6 pointed stars.
The multi-piece ormolu figure has crisp detailed decorative work, wonderfully cut and finished earrings and a hinged head and arms. Within the interior are the wire linkages to the animation movement and the lead counterweights suspended by fine chains. Dial: The silvered dial has engraved Roman numerals and minute's chapter on an engine-turned field, steel-cut Breguet-style hands and a decorative ormolu bezel with intertwined snakes above and a winged dragon below. It is stamped and numbered on the backside, 'JF Houdin, a Paris, 5614'.
The eight-day time and strike movement has a silk-thread suspension, an arbor off the back side to activate the animation above, the fast/slow out the front and is stamped, '5614, 6 - 6'.
The animation movement, mounted below the table, has thick plates, well-cut and finished wheel-work, a Geneva stop and is wound and manually activated out the back. The patinated cups carry the items used in the ball and cup trick and sit in a revolving brass wheel. When the movement is activated, either at the hour by the clock or manually, the wheel rotates 180 degrees stopping at each notch to allow the items to be raised into position and then lowered again. The front plate is stamped, 'INVENTÉ ET EXÉCUTÉ A LA FABRIQUE D'HORLOGERIE, DE J-F HOUDIN. 10 N.D. DES VICTOIRES A PARIS. 1836.' while the backplate is stamped 'N.D.22' and the back cover '22'. The movement will activate 15 times per winding. Sundial Farm Antique Clocks Ltd.

Lizenz

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