A Chinese Ormolu Quarter-Striking, Musical and Automaton 'Acrobat' Mantel Clock

銅鍍金人偶翻杠水法跑鴨亭式廣鐘
modelled in a dual tier pagoda form; the base section housing the works of curving section, all supported on ornate curvilinear foliate feet. The enameled dial painted with Roman hour markers, set behind a hinging glass door to a gilt bronze panel beneath a cut-out metal automaton scene before spiraling glass rods simulating waterfalls. The upper section in the form of a chamber topped with a square sectioned roof with pointed eaves, surmounted in a gilt bronze finial all housed within an openwork gallery, having a complex figural automata of vaulting acrobats spinning about bars upon the opening of a red doored curtain before retiring to the left. The 8-day fusee movement operating a quarter hour strike on bells, or with a brass pinned cylinder to operate the automata function, all while music plays.

乾隆中後期經典廣鐘樣式。鐘分兩層，下層為曲線形箱體，正面有三針時鐘，大明火琺瑯羅馬數字盤。鐘盤上方拱形洞內有水法和跑鸭。上層為亭，亭內掛簾，機械開動后右侧門簾卷起，一对翻杠人偶前後移出，循入左門，樂畢亭內左侧門簾降下，下層水法和跑鸭同時轉動，非常活潑。同款鐘錶可參考北京故宮藏故00182806，故00182807及故00183146。

Height 28 1/2 x width 12 x depth 8 1/2 in., 72.4 x 30.5 x 21.6 cm.

Property from the Halim Time & Glass Museum, Evanston, Illinois

For similar examples held in the collections of the Palace Museum, Beijing, refer to acc. nos. gu00182800, gu00182807 and gu00183146.

Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve 本拍品不設底價