Live Auction 2496Important Watches
Cartier. A Rare And Unusual Gilt-Metal Eight Day Art Deco Ship's Bell Striking Desk Clock
Lot 132

Cartier. A Rare And Unusual Gilt-Metal Eight Day Art Deco Ship's Bell Striking Desk Clock

SIGNED CARTIER, FRANCE, MOVEMENT SIGNED CHELSEA CLOCK CO., BOSTON MA., NO. 192'093, BASE PLATE ALSO SIGNED EUROPEAN WATCH AND CLOCK CO., FRANCE, NO. 2686, CIRCA 1929

Closed16 December 2011

Price Realised

USD 20,000

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Cartier. A Rare And Unusual Gilt-Metal Eight Day Art Deco Ship's Bell Striking Desk Clock
Signed Cartier, France, Movement Signed Chelsea Clock Co., Boston Ma., No. 192'093, Base Plate Also Signed European Watch And Clock Co., France, No. 2686, Circa 1929
Gilt-finished lever movement, silvered matte dial, sunken chapter ring with applied black Roman numerals, black enamel anchor hands, all set within a decagonal-shaped case, decagonal bezel in black and gilt rope twist motif, circular outer frame resembling a ship's helm, 8 black and gilt spokes, black divisions, back plate secured by four screws, all mounted to a wooden base, dial signed by retailer, movement signed by maker
19cm high with base, 16.5cm wide

Specialist note

Accompanied by a Chelsea Clock Certificate confirming the Ships Bell movement, number 192'093 was shipped from the factory on April 12, 1929 and sold to Cartier.

These unique timepieces follow the maritime tradition of striking bells to signal the mariner's watch. The day is divided in to six watches of four hours each. This allowed crews or teams to be on hand at all times while the ship was under sail. Individual crew members were assigned two watches a day. Through a 24 hour period the watch officer would strike the bell every 30 minutes indicating the time. There are eight bells struck using the following pattern:

1 bell 12:30 4:30 8:30, 2 bells 1:00 5:00 9:00, 3 bells 1:30 5:30 9:30, 4 bells 2:00 6:00 10:00, 5 bells 2:30 6:30 10:30, 6 bells 3:00 7:00 11:00, 7 bells 3:30 7:30 11:30, 8 bells 12:00 4:00 8:00