A Rare Crane Form Clock by Guilmet of Paris
Constructed in the form of a Dockside Winch Crane loading a barrel, which houses the enamel face clock, with hours delineated in Roman numeralsclock, all mounted on a polished mahogany platorm dressed with ogee bronze feet.
Andre Romain Guilmet ( 1827-1892)
A horologist, noted for his Mystery' and 'Industrial design' clocks, was employed by the prestigious Maison Christofle, as a gilder and jeweller, before starting his own business.
An exhibitor at the Paris Univeral Exhibition of 1867, his 'Industrial Design and Mystery' clocks were lauded.
Guilmet was obviously inspired by Jules Verne, as Balloons, Locomotives and Submarines, as well as early cars are included in his oeuvre, which feature in '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' & 'Around the World in 80 Days'.
The Victoria & Albert Museum, British Museum and the Royal Museum Greenwich show examples of his oeuvre.
Circa 1885
Bibliogarphy;
'Mystery, Novelty and Fantasy Clocks' by David Roberts published Schiffer, 1999.