An exceptional quality Viennese style regulator wall clock, the…
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An exceptional quality Viennese style regulator wall clock, the white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds and signed 'H.J.Norris, Coventry' with eight day time and strike dead beat escapement, the burr walnut case with ornate brass and walnut finials, circa 1880. Complete and running with winder. 92 x 17 x 42 cm
circa. A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
burr. Burr (or in the USA, burl) is the timber from the knotted roots or deformed branch of the tree, which when cut, displays the small circular knots in various gradations of colour. It is always cut into a decorative veneer, most commonly seen as burr walnut on 19th century furniture.
finial. An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
Finials follow a variety of forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
The buyers premium is an additional percentage charge on the hammer price of the item, imposed by the auction house to cover administrative costs. The buyers premium percentage varies between auction houses, with a range of 12.5% to 22%.
