Beschreibung:

A French patinated metal and gilt brass sculptural mystery timepiece Guilmet, Paris, circa 1900 The eight-day back-wound movement with tic-tac escapement and short bob pendulum swinging behind the frontplate, the backplate fitted with counterpoise for the hour hand and stamped with circular trademark GLT, BTE, SGDG, MEDAILLE D OR, PARIS above serial number 4886, the circular white enamel Roman numeral dial with scroll-pierced gilt hands and Arabic five-minutes to outer track, the cylindrical case with Greek-key decoration to the silvered drum housing surmounted by a gilt foliate crest above conforming side scrolls flanking sprung pivot support, with triple-rod gridiron 'pendulum' shaft terminating with an elaborate gilt cartouche incorporating regulation screw beneath, the figural stand cast as a semi naked male holding aloft the timepiece via the sprung pivot in his left hand and cradling a money box draped with a banner inscribed EPARGNE-PREVOYANCE in his right, the naturalistically cast base incorporating a beehive, cornucopia and inscribed Pour la MUTALITE, with further impressed indistinct signature and applied with MADE IN FRANCE roundel to left hand side, on circular moulded foot, 69cm (27.25ins) high. Andre Romain Guilmet was amongst a number of French clockmakers, including Robert Houdin, who responded to the Parisian fashion for magic and conjuring during the latter half of the 19th century. Condition report disclaimer