FINE AND RARE CLOCKS
The Tudor House Clock Museum, Yarrawonga
Sometimes, a consignment just takes our breath away!
It might be a range of English ceramics, it might be a piece of Lalique glass, it might be a superb collection of Australian stamps or it might be a piece of jewellery by Georg Jensen. It could be a fine wine cellar and occasionally it’s the complete contents of a home. We never know what each new day will bring through our doors.
This catalogue, a single owner collection of clocks, automata and music boxes has been just one of those moments for us.
We have had the pleasure of getting to know the collection, researching and understanding it and eventually writing and photographing it for this catalogue, and now we are ready to share it with you. And along the way, we got to know the man behind the collection, Brian Williamson, through the words of his wife, Joan. Although Brian passed away late last year, because Joan shared his passion for these mechanical marvels, she has been able to transmit much of his knowledge and enthusiasm. We hope this catalogue gives you some sense of our excitement, as well as that of Brian and Joan, as you leaf through the following pages.
Our rooms are going to be such fun during the viewing days; we hope many of you will come and see the remarkable collection, assembled over several decades and already shared with the thousands of visitors welcomed at The Tudor House Clock Museum in Yarrawonga.
There’s no time like the present!
Some of our favourites include Lot 3 (a delightful little Bushell’s Tea advertising wall clock), Lot 15 (a superb example of an English Gothic bracket clock by Davis with the quarter striking on eight bells, the hour strikes on a gong), Lot 33 (an EMILIAN WEHRLE Black Forest Trumpeter Tyrolean shelf clock, which plays two announcements on 8 horns), Lot 65 (a remarkable “Quarterdeck Helmsmen” French Industrial clock by Guilmet, in magnificent condition) and Lot 66 (a “Fire Pump” French Industrial clock with barometer, copper, brass and nickel plate on slate base, by Guilmet and in equally superb condition.)
Lot 79 (is a Rare French erotic automaton mantel clock, hand-painted and gilt decorated metal case with a romantic couple revealed inside the closed doors. Make sure the kiddies are out of the room when the hour chimes…unless you’ve explained the birds and the bees! Lot 87 (is an Amusing French automaton mantel clock, white marble and gilt bronze case inscribed “Honi Soit Qi Mal Y Pense” with a young woman and a removable basket of flowers revealing her obeying a call of nature). Lot 94 (is our front cover piece, a YOUNG WIZARD French chiming clock with automaton figural top) and Lot 111 (is one of a group of OSWALD German Art Deco novelty carved wooden clocks, this one in the shape of a monkey with revolving eyes). Lot 131 (a KANGAROO Mystery clock by Junghans, is also one of a group of similar pieces) and Lot 149 (is an OPTIC EYE Advertising wall clock by Gilbert & Co. U.S.A. circa 1910. A striking piece, if you’ll forgive the pun). Finally, Lot 249 (is a rare and impressive French “Swinging Globe Timepiece” 3 piece clock set with couple on a swing, bronze finished cast metal on rouge marble bases, circa 1900. The couple pendulum swings side to side within the arch.