Chinese automaton imperial Gilt-Bronze Enamel clock, highly decorated in Gilt-Bronze plate has 11.5cm white enamel dial with black painted Roman numerals, ornate pierced brass hands with sweep seconds hand, red and clear paste-set jewels around the bezel,fronting the high quality movement with engraved brass plates having a filigree border and signed to backplate of movement. The clock has three stages with eight beaded cones that spin, has three waterfalls to the sides and in front with ducks moving up and down, forest on top, the chain movement is marked and comes with a key. On the hour, the clock activates the music played on bells, and the animated mechanism of swimming ducks in front of an open frieze panel. A cylindrical cluster of spinning glass rods forms a waterfall in the top of the case under a drum form having a paste-set jeweled bezel with a 12.5cm 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. 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). ‘JI’ is similar shape to gourd. cause of lots vines and seeds, the ancients mostly used ‘the gourd’ to imply that the descendants stretched for generations. Gourd-shaped upper part sits on an exquisitely carved pig statue with the symbol of wealth in ancient society. Large gilt bronze case has extravagant filigree mounts throughout with mythical heads above the corners, pierced decorated galleries, four beaded cones spin around the case.The clock is supported by four sheep at four corners, heads up with ganoderma in the mouth. Four sheep are connected by delicate flower branches, which is especially inlaid with red, white and green jeweled flowers. Measures 45 x 34 x 93cm , clock is running and striking, all automaton mechanisms are working.For a near identical example, refer to Fontaines Auction Lot 150 on May 21, 2016，and Clars Auction June 19th 2016 Lot 2401.PROVENANCE : 15th Dec 2019 sold by Singapore International Auction, Lot 1734. From Herzum Viktor Family in 1970s, acquired from an english antique dealer Spink and Son Even earlier. Length: 45cm,Width: 34cm, Height: 93cm,Diam of the dial: 11.5cm, Over all in GOOD condition. ROSWELL AUCTIONS provides condition reports as a courtesy to our clients and assumes no liability for any error or omission. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, and is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Descriptions are our opinions and should in no way be construed as a guarantee of any kind as to age, condition, mater. The bidder assumes responsibility for ensuring that the condition of the item(s) meets with their satisfaction prior to bidding. 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.