HENRY BORRELL, LONDON. A MAGNIFICENT AND LARGE CHASED AND ENGRAVED ORMOLU QUARTER STRIKING MUSICAL CLOCK WITH AUTOMATA 'SAILING SHIPS', MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET, CIRCA 1795
Year: Circa 1795Movement: Large three train chain fusee movement striking on bells, rack striking on a nest of eight bells playing two musical tunes, playing on the hour or at will through a button on the side of the case, highly decorative engraved floral and scroll back-plate, when the music is activated the engraved panel raises to reveal an automaton scene of painted ships and galleons on a realistically portrayed sea, the sea replicated by twisted glass rods turning within the automaton.Dial: White enamel dial with Roman numerals, centre seconds, the bezel set with red paste stones, similarly decorated paste setting to the rectangular aperture surrounding the concealed automaton sceneCase: The exquisitely and finely chased and engraved ormolu case with floral motifs throughout, applied highly detailed balustrading work and finely shaped and engraved feet, pierced and engraved door revealing the movementDimensions: To come
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Henry Borrell,華麗及大型,清朝年代銅鎏金精雕活動人偶報時報刻音樂座鐘,為中國市場製造,年份約1795。EUROPEAN CLOCKS MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKETThe Chinese Imperial court's fascination with striking clocks engineered in the West, has roots in the first European Jesuit missions to China by Matteo Ricci and Michele Ruggieri in the mid-16th Century. Mechanical clocks were among the most prized tributary gifts given to Chinese courtiers and ultimately to Emperors of the late Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911), who were impressed by the West's technological prowess and as a result, allowed European emissaries access to China. The Emperor Qianlong (1736 – 1795) amassed possibly the largest collection of watches and clocks with his voracious appetite for Western horological treasures during his reign; and commissioned Chinese-made clocks crafted in the Imperial Palace workshops in Guangzhou. According to a conservator at the Palace Museum, Beijing, there are "nearly 1,600 timepieces in the collection of The Palace Museum – all hailing from the Qing dynasty" with some items kept in their temperature-controlled basement storage.1RECENTLY DISCOVERED MASTERPIECE BY HENRY BORRELLThe present magnificent clock is made by famous English Master clockmaker Henry Borrell (1794 – 1840), who is known for his decorative and exquisitely crafted export market clocks made for the Chinese and Turkish markets. Henry Borrell was a London Master watch and clockmaker whose address was registered at 15 Wilderness Row (1795-1840). The centre seconds hand was extremely popular at that time, as was the ting-tang quarter striking system whereby every fifteen-minute interval is struck on two bells and hammers, powered by the strike train. The chased and engraved ormolu decorated case, further accented by cast foliate mounts and outswept feet are characteristic of Henry Borrell's clocks made for the Chinese Imperial market. The shutter lifts to reveal an automata scene of painted metal sailing ships moving in two directions amidst spiralling glass rods simulating sea waves. Recently discovered in a Japanese private collection, this important and magnificent Henry Borrell clock offers a new audience of collectors the chance to revel upon an automata scene of ships riding on glass 'waves' and listen to the musical and quarter striking chimes, once again marvelling in its beauty and technical complexity like Emperor Qianlong would have. COMPARABLE EXAMPLES OF HENRY BORRELL CLOCKS ? Christie's 27th May 2008 Magnificent Clocks for the Chinese Imperial Court from the Nezu Museum auction in Hong Kong Lot 1511 Henry Borrell with sailing ships automata, musical quarter striking with guilloché enamel decoration, height 74 cm sold for HK$36,167,500