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Description

To be executed in gilt bronze mounted cut crystal

The dial within milled bezel to the front of a crystal globe ornamented with hobnail cutting, resting on three addorsed demi-chimerae issuing from acanthus scrolls, on a crystal socle similarly decorated with hobnail cutting; on toupie feet 13in. high

Chimerae were Antique mythological beasts with a lion's head, goat's body and a dragon's tail.

A 12in. high clock of this exact model in the Spanish royal collection is illustrated in Carvajal, 172, #151. A pair of similar addorsed demi-chimerae is found on an ormolu-mounted cut-glass lyre clock in the Spanish royal collection; see Carvajal, 230, #214. These demi-chimerae are closely related to those on the early 19th century series of candlesticks commissioned by William Beckford for his house, Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire, England, and which Ottomeyer & Preschel (I, 324, 5.1.3) consider of French manufacture. A pair of these, in the Edward Sarofin collection, were sold at Christie's London, November 16, 1995, lot 111, themselves split from the four sold from the estate of Beatrice Lagrave Maltby at Christie's New York, April 16, 1994, lot 15. (See also cat #7) A related clock with a very similar cut-crystal circular casing to the movement and dial, supported by addorsed dolphins on a vertically fluted cut-crystal socle, is illustrated in Chadenet, 181.

Medium

Watercolour, gouache and pen and ink, on laid paper

Dimensions:

33.00cm wide   50.40cm high (12.99 inches wide  19.84 inches high)

Status

FOR SALE