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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Ita McCobb
International Marketing & Communication, Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers SA
Tel +41 22 318 28 38
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Patrizzi & Co. auction, Sunday, May 24, Grand Hotel et de Milan
EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE PRE-PENDULUM CLOCKS
Collection of Renaissance Clocks Pre-Pendulum
Osvaldo Patrizzi, CEO and Founder Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers comments: “Once again Milan has shown itself as an important auction center. The objects offered were of international interest, continuing the trend begun with the Davide Blei Collection of Vintage Rolex Watches. The success of these sales unquestionably demonstrates that Milan, in the areas of art and collectables, rivals Geneva, New York, and London.
Milan has all the necessary ingredients for becoming a significant center for prestigious objects, especially in horology, where Italians have a long tradition of collecting and a great appreciation of the art.”
The auction room was nicely crowded. There were dozens of online bidders as well as numerous telephone bidders, several of whom stayed on the phone and bid for the length of the auction.
This is the first time in over 150 years that such a collection has been offered for sale. The collection included 70 extraordinarily rare spring-driven pre-pendulum clocks and automaton clocks, dating from the early 1500’s through the late 1600’s. Now, these extraordinary objects have been sent to every corner of the world; the lots were sold to collectors in Qatar, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and of course, Italy. In addition, there was enormous interest during the exhibition preview. The two days prior to the sale saw hundreds of visitors to the exhibition from all of Europe, especially Germany, Poland, France, England, Switzerland, and from all over Italy.
The beautiful auction catalogue will surely become an appreciated coffee table book, as it is filled with history and provenance, rich descriptions and lots of photographs. It undoubtedly contributed to the interest and enthusiasm of the sale, and helped bring new collectors to an understanding of this ancient horology.
The sale totaled Euros 2,645,300., with 100% of the lots sold, and 160% sold by value.
TOP LOTS
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Lot 32
Lion of St. Mark, Augsburg, circa 1630
An important and exceptionally rare Lion of St. Mark automaton clock striking hours,
in gilt brass on wood, from the Time Museum Collection.
Estimate Euros 40’000 – 60’000
Sold for Euros 72’000,--
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Lot 39
Signed “I. E/W”, probably Johan Eichstedt, Gdansk (Danzig), circa 1680
An exceptional, magnificent, gilt brass and silver astronomical Grande Sonnerie horizontal
table clock with three striking trains, annual perpetual calendar, Zodiac, phases of the moon and its age, the position of the sun and moon in the Zodiac, indications for the lengths of day and night, sunset and sunrise, and diagram of planetary aspects
Estimate Euros 30'000 – 40'000
Sold for Euros 62'000,--
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Lot 42
Field Marshal on a Horse Nikolaus Schmidt the elder, Augsburg, circa 1590
Important, one of only two known to exist, Field Marshal on a Horse automaton figure clock in gilt copper and bronze, striking hours, with single hand, formerly in The Time Museum.
Estimate Euros 80’000 - 120’000
Sold for Euros 125’000,--
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Lot 48
CD, Germany, last quarter of 1500s
Extremely rare and important miniature gilt brass tower-form clock striking hours, with alarm and an early minute hand iron movement.
Estimate Euros 15’000 – 20’000
Sold for Euros 30’000,--
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Lot 54
Hans Gruber, Nuremburg, made for Count Wilhelm of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg, dated 1571.
Important and impressive, heavy, gilt brass tower-form table clock of noble provenance, striking hours and quarters, with alarm, sundial, compass, three-tier steel movement, micrometric rate adjustment, and hour and quarter dials.
Estimate Euros 15'000 – 20’000 Euros
Sold for Euros 57’000,--
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Lot 60
Southern Germany, probably Nuremberg, circa 1580
Important, very rare, gilt bronze tower-form table clock striking hours, with alarm and single hand steel movement.
Estimate Euros 15’000 – 20’000 Euros
Sold for Euros 28’000,--
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Lot 61
Southern Germany, engravings after Hans Sebald Beham, last quarter of 1500s
Interesting and rare gilt brass tower-form table clock striking hours, with alarm and single hand steel movement.
Estimate Euros 10’000 – 15’000 Euros
Sold for Euros 26’000,--
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Lot 68
Southern Germany circa 1580, movement circa 1700 by Benedict Fürstenfelder
Magnificent gilt brass Monstrance form clock striking hours and quarters, repeating quarters with alarm.
Estimate Euros 20’000 – 30’000
Sold for Euros 44’000,--
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Lot 69
Germany, circa 1630
Exceptionally rare “Saint George Slaying the Dragon” gilt brass and gilt copper automaton alarm table clock striking hours.
Estimate Euros 20’000 – 30’000
Sold for Euros 58’000,--
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Lot 70
Southern Germany, circa 1600
Exceptionally rare gilt brass elaborate tower-form alarm table clock striking hours, with hours and quarters dials.
Estimate Euros 15’000 – 20’000
Sold for Euros 38’000,--
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