Monumental Tiffany & Company Quarter-chiming Mahogany Floor Clock

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Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments

By Bonhams Skinner

Nov 1, 2014 - Nov 2, 2014

Set Reminder 2014-11-01 10:00:00 2014-11-02 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/skinner/clocks-watches-scientific-instruments-251
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• Lot Description
  Monumental Tiffany & Company Quarter-chiming Mahogany Floor Clock, case attributed to R.J. Horner & Co., W. 23rd Street, New York; Retailed by Tiffany & Company, New York, c. 1900, finely carved removable crest with winged figures flanking a center raised boss supported by flowers, leaves and scroll decoration over the gadrooned crown molding, below winged Griffins flank the composite brass Arabic numeral dial with seconds bit, subsidiary dials for Chime-Silent and Westminster/ Whittingtonchime selection, moon's age in the arch and pierced brass grill work on spandrels and center, the glazed waist door flanked by caryatids of human female and fish form over the fully carved base panel with central putti, birds, a grotesque mask and allegorical human depictions of the wind on a punch decorated ground, eight-day, three train quarter-chiming movement attributed to J.J. Elliott, LTD, London with nine tubular bells marked Walter H. Durfee, Prov. RI, dead-beat escapement, rack and snail strike, brass-faced seconds-beating pendulum and three brass-cased weights, ht. 119 in.
  
  Provenance: This clock was part of the original furnishings of the W.P. Brown mansion on 4717 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans. This four story, 22,000 square foot Romanesque revival mansion was built by Brown between 1901 and 1904 as the promised gift to his wife of the "most palatial dwelling in New Orleans". According to accounts, many rooms of the house and the grand staircase were sheathed in flame mahogany, a perfect backdrop for this mahogany timekeeping masterpiece for nearly 80 years. The second owners of the house and clock were William Joseph Gibbens, Jr. and his wife Florieda Batson (1901-1996) who by the end of 1930 moved into the elegant dwelling. After the passing of William, Florieda sold the mansion and gave the prized clock to her grandaughter, the present consignor in 1979. It is interesting to note that Florieda was the captain of the first Woman's World Games in Paris, 1922. Called by some the "Woman's Olympics", these games were the prelude to allowing woman to compete in the formerly all male Olympic Games. Her many silver trophies, like the clock, adorned the mansion.
  For other related examples with oak primary wood, please see Skinner Clocks, Watches and Scientific Instruments sale, November 2, 2013, lots 308 and 309.
  Estimate $90,000-120,000
  
  moon's age dial repainted, all feet are original with some loss and repairs.
  
  
  The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
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