Clock

The clock is signed by James Pyke of London and probably dates from c 1770 while its stand is from the early 19th century. Tradition says it was supplied to Marie Antoinette for the Tuileries in Paris, and was later in the collection of the Duke of Buckingham at Stowe. Its elaborate mechanism incorporates a pinned barrel organ with a number of interchangeable popular 18th century songs and tunes. This is activated every two hours together with the automata. Figures start dancing, musicians play their instruments, dogs begin to swim in the river, and ships sail into the horizon.

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