97th Auction

2018/5/12

Lot 77

Christian Heinrich Weisse, Dresden, Case No. 54458, 135 mm, 2300 g, circa 1760
An important quarter self striking coach clock with quarter hour / hour repeater, alarm and date
Case: silver, rear bell, concealed winding apertures. Dial: enamel, central alarm disc, date window at ''6''. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee/barrel for going train, 3 hammers, 3 florally engraved barrels for striking trains, three-arm brass balance.
Christian Heinrich Weisse was born in 1724 into a well-known clockmaking family in Dresden. He became a master in 1775 and died in 1793. The family continued the watchmaking tradition until the end of the 19th century. Their story is described in an article in Allgemeines Journal der Uhrmacherkunst, 1906, No. 5.
The so-called coach clocks are de facto travel clocks, early spring-driven mechanical clocks dating from the time when travellers began to lay value on having accurate timekeepers with them on their journeys. Basically these clocks were oversized pendant or pocket watches that - due to their size - obviously could not be worn on the body. The size was a prerequisite, however, since this type of timepiece needed a strong and robust case and a large balance that was not too sensitive to the environment. Carriage clocks have a large dial on the front that is usually enamel; champlevé or repoussé techniques were used less frequently. They are built with a robust verge movement sitting between two round plates connected with finely cut baluster columns that were often decorated with delicate chasing or fluting. The barrels for clock, strike and alarm are usually finely engraved. The hour strike mechanism originally used a locking disc, which was later replaced by a rack that was capable of repeating. To ensure that the clocks did not suffer during transport, they were normally protected by several cases and additional outer cases often coated with tortoise shell, or they had leather covers. On the journey the clocks most likely sat on a seat in the carriage. Early clocks were created from firegilt bronze, later the majority of them were made from silver; they usually have a diameter between 75 and 200 mm.

Sold

estimated
16.00030.000 €
Price realized
18.000 €