95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 274
G(ilbert) Martinot, Paris, Height 155 mm, circa 1560
A fine remarkable Renaissance-style turret clock with one hand and very unusual quarter strike mechanism; in rare, high-quality original condition
Case: brass, firegilt, right panel with control window. Dial: brass, firegilt, central compass rose. Movm.: massive iron frame, brass going train in two levels, gut/fusee for going and striking train, large barrel, 1 hammer, locking plate with internal teeth in the base, verge escapement, rim foliot.
All sides are engraved with allegorical figures and signs of the zodiac. The front shows a Roman commander surrounded by clouds. A solder kneels before him and hands him a burning candle. Spread over three corners and the left edge are the following signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Scorpio and Taurus. The right side part is engraved with a knight in armour with shield, sword and lance, with Aries at his feet; at the level of his head Pisces is shown, Aquarius is visible in the top left corner. The back has Mercury with a town view in the background; Libra is shown near the left edge, in the top right corner are Virgo and Gemini. The left side panel shows Luna with the crescent moon, standing on Cancer; Leo can be seen in the top left corner. The removable base plate is signed on the inside and decorated with contemporary Mannerism-style engraving: a wreath of fruit and ribbons around an oval coffer panel with scrolling. The open-work belfry has a baluster at the top; the edge of the roof is decorated with four grilles with scrollwork and grotesques. The corners have balusters at the top.
The condition of this clock - which is nearly 500 years old - is outstanding. All parts are original, with only one minor modification - the wheel balance was replaced with a front pendulum, which was later rebuilt. The engraving is striking and incredibly detailed. The clock is also decorated with Mannerism-style ornaments, which is highly unusual for clocks.
Gilbert Martinot was maker to the courts of Charles IX and Henry III as well as clockmaker to the city of Paris until 1581, when his son Denis Martinot took over the position. Martinot is registered as apprentice in Paris around 1549. He lived in Paris until 1592 and was the founder of a renowned clockmaking dynasty.
A fine remarkable Renaissance-style turret clock with one hand and very unusual quarter strike mechanism; in rare, high-quality original condition
Case: brass, firegilt, right panel with control window. Dial: brass, firegilt, central compass rose. Movm.: massive iron frame, brass going train in two levels, gut/fusee for going and striking train, large barrel, 1 hammer, locking plate with internal teeth in the base, verge escapement, rim foliot.
All sides are engraved with allegorical figures and signs of the zodiac. The front shows a Roman commander surrounded by clouds. A solder kneels before him and hands him a burning candle. Spread over three corners and the left edge are the following signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Scorpio and Taurus. The right side part is engraved with a knight in armour with shield, sword and lance, with Aries at his feet; at the level of his head Pisces is shown, Aquarius is visible in the top left corner. The back has Mercury with a town view in the background; Libra is shown near the left edge, in the top right corner are Virgo and Gemini. The left side panel shows Luna with the crescent moon, standing on Cancer; Leo can be seen in the top left corner. The removable base plate is signed on the inside and decorated with contemporary Mannerism-style engraving: a wreath of fruit and ribbons around an oval coffer panel with scrolling. The open-work belfry has a baluster at the top; the edge of the roof is decorated with four grilles with scrollwork and grotesques. The corners have balusters at the top.
The condition of this clock - which is nearly 500 years old - is outstanding. All parts are original, with only one minor modification - the wheel balance was replaced with a front pendulum, which was later rebuilt. The engraving is striking and incredibly detailed. The clock is also decorated with Mannerism-style ornaments, which is highly unusual for clocks.
Gilbert Martinot was maker to the courts of Charles IX and Henry III as well as clockmaker to the city of Paris until 1581, when his son Denis Martinot took over the position. Martinot is registered as apprentice in Paris around 1549. He lived in Paris until 1592 and was the founder of a renowned clockmaking dynasty.
Sold
estimated
18.000—30.000 €
Price realized
45.900 €