Beschreibung:

A MAGNIFICIENT SOUTH GERMAN PARCEL-GILT AND EBONISED WALNUT QUARTER STRIKING ASTRONOMICAL PRUNKUHR Unsigned, circa 1675 The case of triple-tiered tabernacle form with ripple-moulded dial frames flanked by carved wood figures of the four seasons in shell-headed niches and flanked by parcel-gilt Corinthian columns on scrolling brackets centred with winged cherub heads, the sides with glazed doors giving access to the two movements, the lower section with central pendulum door applied with the parcel-gilt figure of Atlas within a shell niche headed by winged cherub spandrels and flanked by outset Corinthian columns fronting panels of ripple moulding, the left side with a large rectangular door giving access to the pendulum and weights, the stepped base on carved paw feet the astrolabic dial with pewter star plate and gilt-metal rete within twice XII fixed chapter ring and concentric ring for the annualar calendar of the named Saints' day, framed within a line-engraved border with florally engraved spandrels the main gilt-metal dial with Apollo and Diana in the top spandrels flanking a rotating day/night globe above the pewter Roman and Arabic chapter ring enclosing an engraved village scene with a river in the foreground with a fisherman holding a crayfish with two onlookers, florally engraved lower spandrels with twin subsidiary dials below; the left subsidiary with longer blued steel arrow-head pointer to the outer date ring (1 to 30), the inner ring giving the months with their number of days, the centre depicting the four seasons engraved in a quadrant with their seasons and pastoral scenes of planting, pruning and chopping firewood, the right hand subsidiary for moonphase and calendar and engraved between the two subsidiaries with the youthful figure of Chronos; with restorations case; 91 in. (230 cm.) high; 41 in. (194 cm.) wide main dial; 15¼ in. x 13¾ in. (39 cm. x 27.5 cm.) astrolabic dial; 11 in. (28 cm.) sq.