Premier Auction
Sat, Mar 28, 2020 09:00AM EDT
Lot 1093
A Rare Lemuel Curtis Federal Girandole Clock
Estimate: $12,000 - $18,000
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $100 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
Roxbury, Massachusetts, circa 1820, white enameled dial marked ?L Curtis Patent?, (Lemuel Curtis, Massachusetts, 1790-1857), mahogany timepiece with eglomise throat panel set with thermometer, lower panel depicting Perry's Victory in the war of 1812, original brass works stamped "L.Curtis", carved and gilt eagle finial and leafy base, a period winder, pendulum, and weight, interior pendulum box frame is stamped and inscribed "April 18 1864 / Adjd By G.W. Babcock For / T.G. Daggett", and faintly inscribed "Feb 1876 / Mrs. Hoffin", 46-1/2 x 12-1/4 x 5 in.Note: "G. W. Babcock" may be referring to George W. Babcock, (1814-1883), a watchmaker on Leonard St. in Providence, Rhode Island.˜http://americanantiquarian.org/watchpaperscollection/items/show/1975"T. G. Daggett" may be referring to the˜clockmaker, watchmaker and retailer, with a shop on Point St. (now the˜Jewelry District)˜in Providence, Rhode Island. Dates unknown, but active in 1842.http://delaneyantiqueclocks.com/products/detail/833/David-Williams-of-Newport-Rhode-Island-An-exceptional-inlaid-mahogany-tall-case-clock˜Lemuel Curtis' girandole timepieces are extremely rare. Among the few that have come to market include an example sold at Christie's in 2013, price realized at $578.500.For more information on Curtis' patent, girandole timepieces, and a closely related example, see literature:˜Paul J. Foley, Willard's Patent Timepieces: A History of the Weight-Driven Banjo Clock 1800-1900, Massachusetts: Roxbury Village Publishing, 2002, Chapter 14˜˜˜˜, Provenance: Robert Blekicki Antiques, 1983; Collection of Laurence and Helen Alspaugh, Greensboro, North Carolina
throat panel appears to be original, lower eglomise plate is a finely painted replacement, otherwise very good condition, few soldered repairs to side scrolls, eagle finial possibly lacking back implement, with repaired breaks to top of proper right wing, and bottom tip of proper left wing, composite rondels possibly replaced,˜pendulum box interior with traces of early red paint, dial with crazing and some losses to enamel, top knob with warping and cracks (probably original), bottom knob probably not original, gilt loss with some areas of gilt retouch,pendulum resoldered at hanger and possibly a replacement
Condition
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