Benedict Firstenfelder. An unusually small striking and repeating German hexagonal table clock

Benedict Firstenfelder. An unusually small striking and repeating German hexagonal table clock, silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and outer Arabic minutes, the centre engraved with birds amongst baskets of fruit and foliage, wheat ear engraved border; the movement with 5 baluster pillars, verge escapement, going train with chain fusee, going barrels for the striking train and repeat; large silver glazed balance cock, the profusely foliate scroll engraved backplate signed B. FIRSTENFELDER, the 2 repeat hammers engraved with masks; the case with 6 glazed apertures to reveal the movement, on alternating turned baluster feet, the plunge repeat in the case side, circa 1700; 3in. (7.7cm.) (striking train deactivated, winding square capped and hammer removed) Benedict Firstenfelder, Friedburg, nr. Augsburg. Benedict Firstenfelder in company with other clockmakers in Friedberg and Augsburg, experimented with early forms of repetition including minutes. The earliest recorded minute repeating clock is by Firstenfelder and illustrated by Lloyd, H.A. Some Outstanding Clocks over 700 years. This same clock was purchased by the Time Museum and sold as lot 109 Masterpieces from the Time Museum Part II. Sothebys New York 19 June 2002.