A RARE FRENCH GILT BRASS, BRONZE AND ROSSO FRANCIA MARBLE NOVELTY AUTOMATON TIMEPIECE 'THE OARSMAN' Andre Romain Guilmet, Paris, retailed by Dibdin and Company, Limited, London late 19th century The circular eight-day movement with inverted tic-tac escapement positioned to the lower edge of the mechanism connected via a cranked horizontal crutch to the figure of a sailor with a paddle standing towards the bow of the vessel suspended from crossover springs allowing it to oscillate back and forwards acting as a compound pendulum, the movement backplate stamped with inverted MEDAILLE D'OR, A R, GLT, B'TE, S.G.D.G. PARIS trademark, the 2.5 inch circular silvered Arabic numeral dial indistinctly inscribed with retailer's signature DIBDIN & CO LTD, 189 SLOANE STREET, SW 1 to centre and with blued steel spade hands set within canted bezel, the case finely modelled as a single-masted sailing vessel with drum housing the movement tied amidships beneath the rear spar, with gilt bulwark rail, rudder and bowsprit and the hull set within naturalistic ocean setting onto the stepped marble plinth with canted gilt pad feet. 41cm (16ins) high, 38cm (15ins) long including bowsprit, 16.5cm (6.5ins) wide. Provenance: The Selwyn Demmy Collection. Purchased from Christies, King Street, sale of Important Clocks and Marine Chronometers including a Fine Collection of Industrial, Automata and Astronomical Clocks 4th July 2007 (lot 82) for £4,800. Andre Romain Guilmet was born on the 10th of December 1827 in La Ferte-Gaucher, France. He was a credited as a watchmaker and inventor who specialised in producing novelty and mystery clocks for which he applied for a number of patents for designs. Amongst his other Patents was that for a bicycle where the driving chain was set below the seat. He is best known for his 'mysterieuse' figural clock with glass pendulum, this takes the form of a woman holding pendulum in her outstretched hand and arm over a marble base containing the clock below. The pendulum is impulsed by the mechanism underneath her that moves the figure imperceptibly from side to side (see following lot). Guilmet's industrial series of clocks, which includes the current lot, features automated clocks in the form of windmills, lighthouses, automobiles, boats, steam hammers, boilers, etc. Another 'oarsman' automaton timepiece is illustrated in Roberts, Derek Mystery, Novelty and Fantasy Clocks, Schiffer on page 254, (figure 22-1); and a further example was sold at Sotheby's New York The Joseph M. Meraux Collection of Rare and Unusual Clocks, 28 June 1993, (lot 54). Condition Report: Movement is in clean working condition with no evidence of alteration or significant replacements. The dial has some light surface rubbing/scratching causing some of the retail signature to be lost otherwise is in good original condition; the glass/crystal is no longer present. The case is generally in fine original condition with only very slight discolouration and wear to the original gilt and patinated finishes. The marble has a small filled corner chip to the rear upper right hand edge of the base as well as a few very small edge chips otherwise is in fine condition. Timepiece is complete with integral winding key and figural pendulum. Condition Report Disclaimer