HANS SCHNIER IN SPEIR. AN EXTREMELY RARE 16TH CENTURY GILT TRAVELLING BOOK CLOCK dated 1583, the double fusee iron movement with brass plates striking on a bell and with alarm function, balance wheel verge escapement with iron squared baluster pillars, the book-shaped case with metal clasps, the hinged back and front pierced in the centre with a rosette and running animals finely chased; in the spandrels a grotesque mask in relief, the spine inscribed "HANS SCHNIER IN SPEIR, OPERA, 1583" and with the initials in a roundel either side of the city arms; the gilt dial engraved with twenty-four hour and double twelve Arabic numerals, touch pins on the circumference, alarm rose and single steel hand, portrait heads engraved above and below and spandrels similar to the cover, ring suspension above. - the clock was previously sold in Sotheby's in the famous Percy Webster collection on the 27th May 1954, lot 93. Comes with the original Sotheby's catalogue.

16cm high, 10cm wide, 6cm deep.