An extraordinary, never-before seen private collection of fine clocks, music boxes and musical instruments will be sold Saturday, October 22, by Great Gatsby's in Atlanta, US.
The extensive collection was amassed over the course of two generations and has been consigned by a prominent Alabama physician, whose father began the collection nearly 90 years ago.
"It reached the point where the collection was owning me," the physician said with a laugh, "and I just felt the time was right for these wonderful items to be enjoyed by other individuals."
Offered will be over 200 fine antique clocks (most of them French), over 15 antique cylinder and disc music boxes, five baby grand pianos (three by Steinway & Sons), over 100 antique clock mechanisms (an excellent opportunity for antique clock restorers and repairers), and more than 90 Duo Art player piano rolls and over 300 15.5-inch and 27-inch music box discs.
The seller's father was fascinated with the intricacies of clock movements, and he passed this down to his son, who learned to repair and refurbish clocks by his father's side.
The two would go off in search of the next treasure - shopping at flea markets and auction houses in the U.S. and abroad. They both favoured the delicate workings created by the French clock makers.
Since they often needed parts to properly refurbish their finds, the pair also collected fine clock movements.
 A 19th century gilt and patinated bronze Bacchus-themed putti mantel clock |
A second passion of the father's - disc and cylinder music boxes, which were popular in his youth - led to yet another collection. And those of course include the discs (all are catalogued by title and artist). The physician continued these collections upon his father's passing.
French clocks expected to do well include a 19th century silver and gold gilt over bronze figural cartel clock, maker marked "Barbedienne & Cie." (Paris); a 19th century veneered tortoise shell and dore bronze mounted clock; a rare 19th century figural swinger clock, maker marked "Aug. Moreau"; and a 19th century gilt and patinated bronze Bacchus-themed putti mantel clock.
Expected top earners among the English clocks are a very fine 19th century black marble mantel clock with perpetual movement works for day, date, month, moon phase and leap year; and a mid-19th century month-going bronze skeleton clock, attributed to Charles McDowell.
A star American clock promises to be a very rare late 19th century carved mahogany tall case clock with Herschedes 9-tube movement, a design winner at the 1884 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.
Great Gatsby's specialises in conducting successful personal property sales. Its next big sale after this one will be a Winter Auction slated for Saturday, December 3, also in the firm's Atlanta showroom.
