Clocks

A complicated astronomical carriage clock by Breguet & Fils, first sold in January 1826, went dramatically over the odds at Antiquorum (25% buyer’s premium) in Geneva.

A diminutive Queen Anne walnut longcase signed by Christopher Gould (c.1655-1718) made $25,000 (£18,645) against a guide of $2000-3000 at Locati (25% buyer’s premium) in Pineville, Pennsylvania.

A fine English table clock by Huguenot maker Stephen Rimbault (1711-86) generated plenty of competition at auction in the Netherlands.

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

I may be able to add a little to the article about the only known Woodwiss clock (International section, ATG No 2690).

Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) was clockmaker to George III and also to The Prince Regent, later George IV.

A well-documented George II astronomical walnut longcase made by James Gandy of Cockermouth was the highlight of a recent sale at Mitchells’ (22% buyer’s premium) in Cumbria.

A new addition to the permanent collection of the Reform Club on Pall Mall is a William IV Scottish eight-day painted dial longcase.

An impressive 19th century longcase regulator attracted several bidders at a sale held by Metz (28/25% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg.

Nineteenth century French creation features Fall of Phaeton Greek myth

Archibald Knox (1864-1933) is known today as the genius behind the Cymric and Tudric ranges sold by Liberty & Co in the early 20th century.

The French inventor André Romain Guilmet (1827-92) took out many patents for his ingenious designs including in 1868 the idea for a driving chain on a bicycle.

The revocation of the Edict of Nantes by the French king Louis XIV in 1685 led to the massive exodus of Huguenots, many of whom moved to Great Britain.

A private collection of clocks provided the core of the auction titled Clocks & Watches Through the Ages at TW Gaze on March 4. Seventeenth century continental European clocks provided two of the day’s top prices.

An elaborate 18th century French skeleton clock tentatively linked with two leading names working in Paris during the golden age of French clockmaking led a recent Kidson Trigg’s (20% buyer’s premium) sale in Swindon.

Cotswold Art Antiques Chelsea runs from March 20-23 at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London.

This silver desk clock designed in the form of a Rolls-Royce radiator grille with a red enamel badge and a miniature Spirit of Ecstasy mascot perched on top is thought to have been given as a Christmas gift by the British luxury car maker to one of its distributors.

Salisbury saleroom holds specialist offering staged as part of a three-day sale as demand increases

Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-71) began to develop the very first mystery clocks in c.1830.

An unusual, slightly risky, but highly effective late 17th century alarm clock found a new owner at Dr Crott (25% buyer’s premium) in Mannheim.