One clock that you would not mind having to reset every spring has been discovered by Clarke Auction and will be brought to market on April 6th.

     A magnificent 19th century Empire malachite and ormolu mounted cercles tournantes clock currently attributed to Pierre Claude Raguet of France will be the featured lot in the sale. Raguet is also referred to as Raguet-Lepine for his relation, by marriage, to the legendary French horologist and clock maker, Jean-Antoine Lepine.  

     Lepine named Raguet the successor of his Paris based business in 1784 and Raguet subsequently cultivated several highly influential and important clients including several aristocratic French families, a number of European royalty, and most notably, Empress Josephine who eventually appointed Raguet as her personal “Horologer.”

     Beautifully constructed with the natural abstractions of green from the malachite, the clock has a square base bearing a bas-relief plaque that conceals the settings of the lower clock’s works.  Above the base extends a malachite column adorned with ormolu mounts. The bronze mounted serpent that entwines the column also points its head to the double rotating horizontal dials to tell the time. The urn form casing that houses the dial’s upper works is also flanked by two classical bronze figural torsos with wings that form the urn handles.

     Clocks of this quality and by this particular maker are not only important, but of highly rarified quality, and this supreme example should generate some considerable interest based on the historical and collectible value of the piece.

     High quality items also extend beyond clocks in the decorative arts selection at Clarke for their April 6th sale and will especially include important offerings of jewelry.

     The featured lot in the jewelry selection is a spectacular and large brooch flooded with diamonds. The piece, according to a 1992 appraisal that accompanies it, is “14kt yellow gold; Victorian circa 1880; containing one round European cut diamond, approx. weight: 1.5 carats; 18 round old mine cut diamonds, approx. total weight: 5.4 carats; 283 round old mine cut diamonds, approx. total weight: 14.25 carats; average clarity grades (for all diamonds) SI1, average color grades: J; weight of mounting: 26.7 dwt.” The description has some impressive numbers, but the visual appeal of the piece is hardly captured through a technical evaluation.

     Also in jewelry, many of the anticipated top lots will be gold items, including a set of 14kt gold jewelry with linked necklace, bracelet, and earrings to be sold together, a separate grouping of 14kt yellow gold and amethyst earrings and bracelet, a 14kt yellow gold and amethyst “retro” bracelet, a 14kt yellow gold and amethyst necklace and matching earrings, a pair of additional 14kt yellow gold linked bracelets, and an art deco platinum and diamond bracelet.

     Although the gold may be currently leading the selection in terms of volume, there will also be number of pieces in various valuable materials, including a highly desirable Patek Phillipe gentleman’s wrist watch,  an art deco platinum, jade , and diamond brooch, a white gold, sapphire, and pearl necklace and earring set, an 18kt gold Omega ladies wrist watch with rubies and sapphires,  a special antique mine cut diamond bracelet and earring set, an unusually large collection of pearl jewelry, and a unique 14kt and carved coral brooch with flower motif.

     High quality items also are featured in several other categories at Clarke on April 6th.  There will be a wide selection of continental and English porcelain, Italian chandeliers, marble and bronze sculptures, antique furniture,  fine art, midcentury design, Asian objects, sterling silver, and more.

     To register to bid, or to obtain condition reports on any of the items in the catalog please contact the gallery directly at 914 833 8336 or by email at info@clarkeny.com.  To submit and item for consignment or sale please send images to sell@ClarkeNY.com or call the gallery to set up an appointment.

     The online catalog is available 24/7 and is updated daily at www.ClarkeNY.com. In house previews for the sale will be held on April 4th and 5th from 12pm to 6pm EST, and on Sunday, April 6th (day of sale) from 10am to 12pm EST (start of sale).