An ebonised night timepiece, Italian, circa 1690 - Photo Sotheby's

10 x 8-inch painted copper dial depicting a scene of The Nativity, the upper section with pierced aperture revealing the hours passig by the quarter hour marks, fusee movement with circular plates, baluster pillars and verge escapement, the architectural case with broken pediment, outset spiral pillars and agled breakfront base inset with a galzed panel; 74.5cm. 29¼in. high. Estimation: 20,000 - 30,000 GBP

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