LATE RENAISSANCE TOWER CLOCK WITH DATE Southern Germany, probably Augsburg, 1st half of the 17th century. Brass and bronze, engraved with foliate scrolls and gilt. Rectangular, architectural case, the corners set with fluted three-quarter columns. Stepped openwork belfry with balustrade, the corners decorated with pointed pyramids. Dome-shaped finial. On a moulded stepped base, resting on recumbent lions (added later). Front with silvered chapter ring for the Roman hours (I-XII) and later inner dial for the Arabic hours (13-24). Below this, a small silver-plated dial for the date display. The back with two small silver-plated dials for the quarter-hour striking mechanism. Iron movement with verge escapement and wheel balance, quarter-hour striking train on two bells. The movement plates and spring housing are made of brass. Movement with winding mechanism with gut string via worm wheel. 32 × 32 × 49 cm. Alarm movement removed. Gilding and silver plating partly renewed, rubbed. Repair to one obelisk. Chipping to the base. Later hands. Movement to be checked. Provenance: - According to oral tradition and an inventory from 1997, this clock comes from the Fremersdorf collection (not yet confirmed). - Swiss private ownership Cf. two very similar turret clocks, Augsburg, early 17th century in: Klaus Maurice. The German wheel clock. Volume II. Munich 1976, nos. 135 and 133. Apart from the shape, the clocks are related to our example above all in terms of the balusters with the use of balusters and pointed pyramids. Both clocks rest on stepped, partly moulded bases, one with small crushed feet. The feet in the form of reclining lions on the clock offered here must in all probability be regarded as a later upgrade, although turret clocks on lion figures are well known. In comparison, however, these are too large in proportion.