An Outstanding Collection of Early Clocks

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Clockmaking was invented to provide an audible indication of the time, that the sundial could not enable. The English language followed for these instruments the Latin onomatopoeia clocca, which became Clock. This technique was first developed for the purpose of regulating activities and prayers in religious institutions.

The invention of the wound spiral spring allowed the miniaturization of these instruments. Regulating mechanisms improved the accuracy: the fusee was a conical piece of transmission, and the stackfreed had a pressure effect. These techniques compensated for the gradual loss of force of the spring. The dial and hand were soon rendered necessary to add a continuous reading to the discontinued audible information.

In the sixteenth century the development of complications attested the ingenuity of craftsmen. Many secondary information, especially astronomical, became the necessary complement in the most sophisticated instruments. The study of movements led to the creation of automaton animated clocks at that early time.

On May 24 in Milan, Patrizzi auctions an exceptional collection of these instruments of the Renaissance.

One of these clocks, made in South Germany in 1570, includes many complications including the length of the day.

I shall not provide a price before the release of the sale results.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

This specialized auction was a great success. All 70 lots were sold (white gloves!) for a total of € 2.6 million in excess of 60% to the estimates.

Here are the results of the three lots that I included in my previews:

A gilt brass complicated astronomical revolving table clock, Southern Germany, circa 1570 (as announced in my article above): 125 K €.
A gilt brass and ebony revolving monstrance table clock, probably Germany, circa 1620: 205 K €.
A French alarm table clock, Gilbert Martinot, Paris, dated 1565: 170 K €.

It is both the hammer price and the price paid by the buyer, as Patrizzi auction house does not charge a commission to the buyer, who for that reason does not pay VAT.