An ebony, hardstone and ormolu-mounted night timepiece, G Monginot, Florence, circa 1690 - Photo Sotheby's.

2¼ x 7-inch re-painted copper dial depicting Christ with followers within a landscape, the upper section with an aperture revealing the hours passing by quarter hour markings, the fusee movement with circular plates signed Gio: Monginot, Fiorenze, with baluster pillars, verge escapement with bob pendulum and pierced and engraved cock, the architectural triple breakfront case with arched cresting and fluted scroll sides applied with ormolu mounts, the base inset with a drawer, the whole decorated with polished stone panels in shades of red and green within gilt borders; 84cm. 33in. high. Estimation: 40,000 - 60,000 GBP

Sotheby's. Arts of Europe. London | 04 déc. 2012 www.sothebys.com