95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 246
"HS" (attributed to Hans Schniep, Speyer), 113 mm, 1250 g, circa 1580
An important, one-handed splendour coach clock with hour self strike from Southern German origin
Case: brass, firegilt, silver, rear bell. Dial: silver. Movm.: full plate movement, firegilt, maker's mark, 2 barrels, 1 hammer, verge escapement, locking plate with internal teeth, stackfreed to even out the changing torque of the mainspring, foliot and hog's bristle.
Front and back are slightly convex and the silver case band with engraved flowers and tendrils is bombé-shaped, which is a typical style of the last quarter of the 16th century. The open-work back of the case is finely decorated with hand-engraved tendrils and birds. The Roman hours are engraved near the edge of the silver dial, the Arabic numerals for the 24 hours display sit closer to the centre. The centre itself is exquisitely engraved with a stylised flower surrounded by symmetrically arranged strawberry flowers and leaves and tulips.
The maker’s mark HS on the plate sits on a tapering signature label together with a stylised tool and a building with three spires that is similar to the city arms of Speyer. The tool could symbolize the membership in the guild or the name of the clockmaker. The same maker’s mark is found on a clock by Hans Schnier (for Hans Schniep) dating from 1580 that is part of the Pierpont Morgan Collection.
Hans Schniep is recorded as a citizen of Speyer around 1572, the books of the artist blacksmiths’ guild list him until 1599. Schniep is believed to have died in 1624.
The British Museum in London owns a clock with alarm by Hans Schniep dating from the period between 1590 and 1610 that is very similar to this one with regard to movement and decoration of the case.
An important, one-handed splendour coach clock with hour self strike from Southern German origin
Case: brass, firegilt, silver, rear bell. Dial: silver. Movm.: full plate movement, firegilt, maker's mark, 2 barrels, 1 hammer, verge escapement, locking plate with internal teeth, stackfreed to even out the changing torque of the mainspring, foliot and hog's bristle.
Front and back are slightly convex and the silver case band with engraved flowers and tendrils is bombé-shaped, which is a typical style of the last quarter of the 16th century. The open-work back of the case is finely decorated with hand-engraved tendrils and birds. The Roman hours are engraved near the edge of the silver dial, the Arabic numerals for the 24 hours display sit closer to the centre. The centre itself is exquisitely engraved with a stylised flower surrounded by symmetrically arranged strawberry flowers and leaves and tulips.
The maker’s mark HS on the plate sits on a tapering signature label together with a stylised tool and a building with three spires that is similar to the city arms of Speyer. The tool could symbolize the membership in the guild or the name of the clockmaker. The same maker’s mark is found on a clock by Hans Schnier (for Hans Schniep) dating from 1580 that is part of the Pierpont Morgan Collection.
Hans Schniep is recorded as a citizen of Speyer around 1572, the books of the artist blacksmiths’ guild list him until 1599. Schniep is believed to have died in 1624.
The British Museum in London owns a clock with alarm by Hans Schniep dating from the period between 1590 and 1610 that is very similar to this one with regard to movement and decoration of the case.
Sold
estimated
40.000—80.000 €
Price realized
74.400 €