VR-343 - Early Dwarf Serpentine Granne-Sonnerie Vienna Regulator with Pie-Crust Bezel
This is one of those few clocks that came to me and didn’t require any work to be able to offer it at auction. And what a beautiful piece it is. So very short, with the appropriate short weights, pulleys, this clock is wonderfully “of a piece” as the British would say. With its early Viennese 3 weight movement, with the gongs mounted to a stand that attaches to the seaboard instead of the back of the mechanism (an early feature), its lovely, and early engraved pulleys, wide gilded pie-crust bezel, narrower chapter ring, and narrow body - this clock epitomizes the earliest variants of the Serpentine style, while reflecting much of the more elaborate style found to the end of the Biedermeier period.
Note too the very unusual, and wonderfully executed hands, the small, appropriate, and perfect beat scale, the dial in near perfect condition (with two or three near-invisible hairline cracks), the overall excellent case condition, the original carved headpiece and tail finial: It really is unusual to find an earlier clock that is in this nice of condition.
Part of my attraction to the shorter, miniature or dwarf pieces, is the caliber of mechanism that can run a week on a short weight drop. This mechanism, in addition to being able to run a week on a weight drop of roughly 9 inches, is also an earlier, hand-made mechanism. I love going through these mechanisms - they always have individuality that reflects the skills and the training of their makers - no two are the same.
The case, which is faux finished in ruby and jet, as well as the base, which is beautifully veneered, is in very nice condition. I suspect it would truly come to life with a good cleaning and waxing (a service I provide for $100 for this clock). And all of the glass is old and wavy!
If you want a small gem of a clock, one that stands out as a truly lovely piece, unusual, higher quality than most Viennese (which says a lot), this clock would please you. And, if you want a clock that is ready to hang, consider that for $300 all would be made right. The case would be cleaned, polished, any finish flaws touched up, mechanism cleaned... You would have a piece that would be ready to hang and enjoy (or in my case, love.)
Read MoreNote too the very unusual, and wonderfully executed hands, the small, appropriate, and perfect beat scale, the dial in near perfect condition (with two or three near-invisible hairline cracks), the overall excellent case condition, the original carved headpiece and tail finial: It really is unusual to find an earlier clock that is in this nice of condition.
Part of my attraction to the shorter, miniature or dwarf pieces, is the caliber of mechanism that can run a week on a short weight drop. This mechanism, in addition to being able to run a week on a weight drop of roughly 9 inches, is also an earlier, hand-made mechanism. I love going through these mechanisms - they always have individuality that reflects the skills and the training of their makers - no two are the same.
The case, which is faux finished in ruby and jet, as well as the base, which is beautifully veneered, is in very nice condition. I suspect it would truly come to life with a good cleaning and waxing (a service I provide for $100 for this clock). And all of the glass is old and wavy!
If you want a small gem of a clock, one that stands out as a truly lovely piece, unusual, higher quality than most Viennese (which says a lot), this clock would please you. And, if you want a clock that is ready to hang, consider that for $300 all would be made right. The case would be cleaned, polished, any finish flaws touched up, mechanism cleaned... You would have a piece that would be ready to hang and enjoy (or in my case, love.)
