Beschreibung:

A CHINESE PASTE-GEM-MOUNTED ORMOLU MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK
THE CASE GUANGZHOU WORKSHOPS, QIANLONG DYNASTY (1736-1795), INCORPORATING CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MECHANISMS (LATE 18TH CENTURY), THE WATCH MOVEMENT SIGNED FOR PERRET, PARIS
A CHINESE PASTE-GEM-MOUNTED ORMOLU MUSICAL AND AUTOMATON TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK THE CASE GUANGZHOU WORKSHOPS, QIANLONG DYNASTY (1736-1795), INCORPORATING CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MECHANISMS (LATE 18th CENTURY), THE WATCH MOVEMENT SIGNED FOR PERRET, PARIS CASE: modelled in tiers, to be seen from both sides, with a double-side mirror to the top bordered in red paste gems and opening to two further mirrored panels, topped by a patinated metal leafy mount, the mirror resting on a drum-shaped blue enamel clock-case with ormolu beast side masks, this in turn resting on a gadrooned support above a repoussé bureau and with running courtier figures to its sides (formerly holding mounts), the bureau 'slope' set with two red glass cabochons and opening to another mirror panel, also banded with two rows of paste gems in red and blue, the bureau pierced to front and back to reveal painted foliage and spiral glass rods forming an automaton waterfall, decorated with foliate designs and with coronet and pseudo trophy decoration with 'nonsense' inscriptions to the sides; resting on the backs of four caparisoned rhinoceroses (formerly with feet between) on a raised platform, all within a pierced balustrade with vases to its corners (formerly probably issuing flowers); this above a further section applied with foliate mounts, those to the front and rear centred by opposing European profile medallions, those to the sides with lion masks, this section also open to front and back to show a mirror-backed automaton scene of figures parading across an arched bridge, with ships moving between automaton glass rods simulating water below, with painted metal scenery around; this section also framed by a balustraded gallery with vase mounts to the corners (these formerly issuing floral sprays, one replaced); raised on a fabric-covered (distressed) stepped wooden plinth, in turn raised on foliate cast scroll feet; under a gilt-metal framed rectangular glass shade DIAL: white enamel Roman and Arabic dial with pierced gilt-metal hands, within a red paste-gem-set bezel (glass lacking) WATCH MOVEMENT: typical one-day verge pocket watch movement with pierced and engraved bridge to the balance, signed 'Perret/A Paris'; key MUSIC AND AUTOMATON MOVEMENT: housed in the lower section and released at will by a cord, with single gut fusee, a single tune playing on six bells with eight hammers; key 23¾ in. (60 cm.) high, excluding glass shade; 15¼ in. (39 cm.) wide; 11¾ in. (30 cm.) deep