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Welcome Aboard IHC185™ Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Horological Discussions, Questions and Answers Clocks, Including 400-Day Discussions Dirty Clock Fetches £900,000
Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Horological Discussions, Questions and Answers Clocks, Including 400-Day Discussions Dirty Clock Fetches £900,000Go | New Topic | Find-Or-Search | Notify | Tools | Reply to Post | |
| IHC President Life Member  |
This interesting story and picture were sent over from England by our own Ged Pitchford... A dirty old clock left in the corner of a country house library for decades became the most expensive timepiece ever sold in Europe when it recently fetched £901,600.00 at Sotheby's in London. A Sotheby's representative carrying out a routine insurance valuation at the house in Germany thought the table clock looked interesting so he sent a photograph to the auction house. When it arrived on the desk of Michael Turner, director of the clock department at Sotheby's in Olympia, west London, he could scarcely believe his eyes. He realized that the clock, overlaid in translucent red turtleshell and surmounted by an ormolu figure of Apollo, was a rare work by Thomas Tompion, England's greatest clockmaker. Until then only three such pieces were thought to have been made. The aristocratic owners of the clock, which was made in London about 1705, had no idea of its rarity and value. It was covered in grime and had not worked for years. As a result of the Southeby's Auction an English collector who specializes in Tompion clcoks paid a record price and the old country house will now have a new roof. An Exceptionally rare clock built by Thomas Tompion set a record in England...  | ||
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Thanks for doing the honours Lindell, great job. NO,It wasn't me who bought It. GED  | |||
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| IHC President Life Member |
Thanks Ged, My house is filled with all kinds of dusty old things including me. Southeby's can come over and make a "find" any old time they like! Seriously my friend, this really is amazing, thanks for sharing the news. Lindell | |||
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IHC Member 234 |
...a very serious piece...and for someone w/'means' a very serious collectible and maybe 'chump change' to acquire...a Tompion!...magnificent!!!hopefully it'll be placed in a museum or viewable private collection...thanks GED...Jim C | |||
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| <Guy Smith> |
Just goes to show you.... thats why I never thow out what appears to be just a lump of junk. with a little cleaning and polishing you might have a treasure. | ||
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I believe that I would have to do some serious cleaning to find something like that!!  | |||
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