C.1845, French, Robert Houdin, Glass Dial mystery clock.

C.1845, French, Robert Houdin, Glass Dial mystery clock. Unlike the "crystal pendulum mystery" clocks, where the pendulum is visible, this one has a conventional silk thread pendulum that hangs down into the gilded wooden pedestal under the clock proper. The "mystery" is how the power is transmitted to the hand. It is quite amazing that the rotational force can be transmitted through so many angles and still manage to rotate the glass. This is a nice time and strike model in excellent condition. The gilding on the base looks to have been restored maybe 50 years ago, but the clock is otherwise in remarkable original condition. The "sister' to this clock and additional details may be seen in A Collector"s Guide to Clocks, by Derek Roberts (1992), page 101, and also in Tardy"s, Part 2, page 473. Height 16.5'