This rare antique Chinese animated triple fusee bracket clock sold for a stunning $1.27 million at Fontaine's Auction Gallery on May 21st. Photo Fontaine's Auction Gallery.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – A rare antique Chinese animated triple fusee bracket clock roared past its pre-sale estimate of $500,000-$750,000 to sell for $1.27 million at Fontaine's Auction Gallery's cataloged antique and clock auction held May 21st in the firm's Pittsfield showroom. It was the top lot in a sale that grossed $2.5 million, drew 150 people to the room and had over 4,300 registered online bidders.
The clock, which was running and striking, with all animated mechanisms working, was both beautiful and functional. Standing 36 ½ inches tall, the large gilt bronze case had extravagant filigree mounts throughout, with mythical heads above the corners, seashell handles and jeweled floral mounts. A 6 ½ inch porcelain dial featured black Roman hour numbers, fancy pierced brass hands and sweep seconds.
The animation made the clock irresistible. On the hour, the clock activated an animated mechanism of swimming ducks. Spinning glass rods simulated a waterfall in the open frieze panel, and a cylindrical cluster of spinning glass rods formed a fountain in the top of the case. A large spinning pinwheel was surrounded by 10 smaller pinwheels, and a jeweled teardrop finial rotated clockwise at the top.
The winning bidder was a buyer in the room who had traveled some distance to the sale, but asked not to be identified. The 4,300-plus qualified registered online bidders broke down as follows: 2,694 on Invaluable.com, 887 on LiveAuctioneers.com, 563 on Auctionzip.com and 162 on eBay. Some people were able to bid live through Fontaine's website, at www.FontainesAuction.com, for the first time ever.
Lot 150: Rare Chinese Animated Triple Fusee Bracket Clock. Sold for $1.270.500. Photo Fontaine's Auction Gallery.
6.5 in. porcelain dial with black Roman hour numerals and 15 minute numbers outside, fancy pierced brass hands with sweep seconds hand, red and clear paste-set jewels around the bezel. Quality triple fusee movement with engraved brass plates having a filigree border signed Cheong Smag and also signed with 6 character Chinese mark for Hao Sheng Xiang of the Guangdong Province, verge escapement, quarter hour 2 bell strike striking progressive double bells on the quarter hour and strikes the hour. On the hour the clock activates the animated mechanism of swimming ducks and spinning glass rods resembling a waterfall in the open frieze panel and a cylindrical cluster of spinning glass rods forming a waterfall in the top of the case under a drum form having a paste-set jeweled bezel with 4 in. blue enamel panel behind a large spinning paste set center pinwheel surrounded by 10 smaller pinwheels rotating in alternate directions, the jeweled teardrop finial at the top also rotates clockwise. Large size gilt bronze case has extravagant filigree mounts throughout with mythical heads above the corners, seashell handles, pierced decorated galleries and floral mounts with colorful green jeweled corner spandrels having red, white and green jeweled flowers; the drum top has blue enameled bronze ribbons on each side and an ornate bulbous top with red jeweled Chinese characters which read Da Ji (Great Prosperity). Clock is running and striking, all animated mechanisms are working. 36.5 in. high x 15.25 in. wide x 12.75 in. deep. Weight 76 lbs.