Musical Automaton Clock

This exquisite clock made for the Chinese market is rich with ormolu and gilt-copper detail. Swags connect four ornately dressed elephants that support the base. Lions lounge among crowns and whirligigs covered in paste gemstones on the second tier. At the top, a “native woman” strikes a bell on the hours and upon request. She sits under a dome with a pineapple finial, which represents wealth and luck in Chinese culture. The clock plays two tunes on an additional nine bells. The hours also activate a scene in which a parade of people crosses the lawn of an English manor.