Beschreibung:

A CHINESE ORMOLU MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TABLE CLOCK
QIANLONG OR JIAQING PERIOD. LATE 18TH EARLY 19TH CENTURY
A CHINESE ORMOLU MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TABLE CLOCK QIANLONG OR JIAQING PERIOD. LATE 18TH EARLY 19TH CENTURY The waisted and foliate mounted case surmounted by pagoda within a balustraded gallery and centred by a kneeling European automaton figure, surmounted by a pineapple finial, with further pineapple finials to the corners below, handles to the sides above silk-backed foliate and C-scroll sound frets, raised on scroll feet, with acanthus-cast front and rear doors, the arched dial with foliate scrolls spandrels to white enamel Roman and Arabic chapter disc, ormolu hands and centre seconds, with pierced and painted automaton scene with European figures in pagodas overlooking swans moving on simulated water, with waterfall scene to the background, the movement raised on brass brackets and with six pillars, with rear-wound triple gut fusees and verge escapement, hour strike on bell and hourly music on eight bells with eight hammers via 2 in. long pinned barrel, the automaton swans and waterfall also performing at the hour, whilst the figure in the cupola opens a scroll with Chinese inscription 'The first officer of the Court', with two tune selection through the right side sound fret, the back plate engraved with leafy sprigs and with a 'nonsense' signature within a cartouche, further 'signature' to the pendulum bob; with modern travel box See movement detail page 229 21½ in. (54.5 cm.) high; 9½ in. (24 cm.) wide; 6½ in. (16 cm.) deep