Beschreibung:

Y A FINE DUTCH BRASS MOUNTED EBONY GRANDE-SONNERIE STRIKING TABLE CLOCK WITH MOONPHASE AND CALENDAR JACOB HASIUS, AMSTERDAM, CIRCA 1740 The four pillar movement with thick plates measuring approximately 8.75 by 6.375 inches enclosing fusee for the going train with verge escapement regulated short bob pendulum, the hour and quarter trains both with standing barrels secured to the frontplate and sounding the quarter followed by the hour on a graduated pair of bells every quarter hour, the backplate finely engraved with a sunburst mask flanked by foliate scrollwork incorporating ribbon-tied martial trophies over grotesque mask surmounted foliate strapwork bordered signature cartouche engraved Jacob Hasius, Amsterdam Fecit to lower margin, the 8 inch square brass dial with scroll-bordered shaped cartouche further signed IACOB, HASIUS, AMSTERDAM and incorporating date-of-the month aperture to the upper part of the matted centre, over twin shaped chamfer-cut sector apertures revealing month-of-the-year and day-of-the-week indications labelled in Dutch and engraved with their respective deities, within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised trident half hour markers, with scroll-pierced steel hands and lambrequin mask centred scroll cast spandrels to angles within a herringbone engraved border to the edges of the plate, the silvered arch with rolling moonphase set within very finely engraved surround incorporating lunettes and overall inhabited with Classical deities including Poseidon and Zeus together with other allegorical figures and trumpeting putti flanking an aperture for age of the moon to the apex, the ebony veneered bell-top case with scallop-shell centred scroll-engraved hinged shaped brass carrying handle and fine foliate scroll strapwork pierced and engraved fretwork overlay to both the convex upper and the tall concave lower sections of the superstructure incorporating central grotesque masks, urns and dolphins to the latter, over complex top moulding applied with fine chiselled brass vase finials above opening front incorporating brass fillet moulding bordering the glazed dial aperture and engraved winged cherub mask and scroll upper quadrant frets, the sides with circular over concave-topped scroll-engraved brass sound frets incorporating Classical portrait bust-centred cartouches, the rear matching the front, on cavetto moulded skirt base bound with strapwork scroll engraved brass over finely detailed hairy lion's paw feet. 51.5cm (20.25ins) high with handle down, 31.5cm (12.5ins) wide, 20.5cm (8ins) deep. Provenance: Purchased at Christies Amsterdam sale of EUROPEAN AND NOBLE COLLECTIONS 14th December 2011 (lot 60) for 34,600 Euros. Previously the property of a Dutch private collector; with H. Brokke, Amsterdam in 1966, and the Dreesman Collection, circa 1928. Jacob Hasius is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working 1682-1747. He had a workshop in the Jan Roodenpoortstorenteeg and is listed in the 'Register of Good Men' in 1704 and 1716. The specification of grande-sonnerie striking, triple calendar indication and moonphase, coupled with the exceptional dial engraving and the profuse use of pierced and engraved brass mounts to the case suggest that the present clock was made as a 'statement piece' most likely for a member of the wealthy Amsterdam merchant class.