An Extremely Rare Late 19th Century Five-dial Repe - Apr 02, 2012 | Fellows In United Kingdom
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An extremely rare late 19th century five-dial repe

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An extremely rare late 19th century five-dial repe
An extremely rare late 19th century five-dial repe
Item Details
Description
An extremely rare late 19th century five-dial repeating carriage clock by Margaine, Paris. The rectangular gorge case having three 2" diameter white dials with Roman hours, Arabic minutes and blued steel spade hour hand, to the roof and the narrow sides, the broad faces respectively having a conforming 2.4" dial and a 2.2" dial, the latter with moon hands, behind pinned door revealing lever platform escapement, half hour-striking on a coiled blued steel gong, Margaine stamp and number 15138, the five dials all simultaneously adjusting on an arbour beneath VI, the case with recessed roof glazing, facetted wavy handle and push-repeat button over concave corner columns and base, 5.75", (14.5cm) excluding handle.
Condition
Provenance: It is understood that this clock may have been purchased directly from Margaine at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle by an ancestor of the current owner, who was visiting Paris at the time of the unveiling of the Eiffel Tower. It has remained in the same family ever since, passed down by the owner's grandmother and mother respectively. In 1977, Charles Allix, author of the highly-regarded reference work 'Carriage Clocks Their History and Development', was made aware of the existence of this clock. The owner retains a handwritten note from Allix himself, appending her mother's own letter dated 1.12.77. She writes: "Thank you so much for your letter & for so kindly seeing me & telling me about my clock. I am so delighted to have got information about it. " The then owner proceeds to discuss a photograph supplied of the clock, which Allix deemed too small for publication. He responds:"... the clock comes out far too small to be usable for making a block for reproduction... The reader can see the top dial plus front and one side, and must believe the rest!". It is assumed, since the dials are synchronised (not for different time zones), that this clock was intended as an exhibition piece to demonstrate supreme techical ability, and perhaps was intended as a centrepiece within a salon or club where the time could be read from all angles as with a tower/turret clock. Whilst many four-dial clocks are known to exist, we are unaware of any five-dial clocks either in reference literature of sold at auction within the last ten years. Condition: Flake chip to open door-side dial at VII cutting through minute track and outer part of numeral. Small losses below VI to same dial where chipped over hand-adjusting arbour. Some minor tarnishing to case, joints could do with tightening. Winder present, but no travelling box. Fellows do not guarantee the working order or accuracy of any clocks sold.
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An extremely rare late 19th century five-dial repe

Estimate £12,000 - £18,000
See Sold Price
Starting Price £12,000
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Item located in Birmingham, uk
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