Object Description
An excellent example of a light-house clock by Guilmet, dating from c.1880. The lighthouse is part of Guilmet’s maritime collection from the industrial series of novelty clocks.
The case has been newly silver-plated, and both clock and automaton movements overhauled. Thus it is now presented for sale in pristine condition. Not only is this clock mechanically interesting, incorporating the automaton, but it is also a lovely aesthetic piece.
The top part of the lighthouse rotates so that the clock, two thermometers and barometer are all displayed. The mechanism that rotates the top is housed within the base of the lighthouse, and wound at the back. This mechanism has a duration of several hours and a full rotation takes around 105 seconds – follpow the link to the video.
This rotating “light” is surrounded by a bronzed and fretted gallery. To one side is an eight day timepiece clock with silvered Roman dial ring, opposite this an aneroid barometer, and between the two are two mercury thermometers, one graded in degrees Fahrenheit for the English market, the other in degrees Centigrade and Reaumur for the European market.
A dome above has bronzed radial decorative strips, upturned at the edges.
The French firm founded by André Romain Guilmet made a series of clocks with industrial and maritime themes between c.1875 and the 1910s. Many of his case designs celebrated the accomplishments of the industrial revolution.
This clock can be found in the book, Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks, by Derek Roberts.
Height: 43cms
Diameter: 15cms
Guaranteed for 3 years.