Attributed to Houdin à Paris, Height 540 mm, circa 1850

A wonderful and unusual pendulum clock with half hour/hour strike, and automaton that activates on the hour and can also be activated manually; produced for the Chinese market: "The Shell Man"
Case: ormulu, high rectangular smooth case with applied ornamentation. Square base on four volute feet with chased acanthus frieze; front with tendrils, Chinese rose petals and stylized Chinese dragons. Cornice decorated with flowers, tendrils and tracery. On top sits the shell man in Chinese clothing and lifts and lowers two caps on the table in front of him. At the same time two coloured balls change their position; he also moves his head and body. In the backround is a view of a Chinese city with pagodas. The button for activating the automaton is on the side. Dial : gilt, engine-turned centre, Arabic numerals, richly ornamented, gilt brass bezel, blued Breguet hands. Movm. : circular brass full plate movement, 2 barrels, keywind, 1 hammer / 1 bell, count wheel, silk suspended short pendulum. Automaton: brass, large spring barrel, keywind, governor.