Chariot clock charges to Chester

A French marble and ormolu chariot clock from c.1870 is among the highlights at the upcoming Chester Decorative Antiques and Art Fair, which runs from October 20-22.

It is offered by Olde Time Antiques of Norfolk, which returns to the fair for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Available for £12,500, the clock has an eight-day movement striking the hours and halves on a silvered bell and is signed Vincenti.

Jean Vincenti, thought to be a Corsican, was a well-regarded clockmaker whose workshop opened in Montbeliard in 1823. Five years later, after financial problems, he teamed up with Albert Roux and the business became known as Vincenti et Cie. Roux took over when Vincenti died in 1834 and in 1850 opened a store in Paris

Olde Time’s owner Paul Nunn says: “Our home is on the East Coast, so a trip to Chester is a special occasion and we’ll be looking forward to meeting many old and certainly some new clients.”

The firm brings a wide selection of clocks dating from the 18th-20th centuries.

Vitascope Clock manufactured in The Isle of Man, available for £3850.

Another standout example is an Art Deco-style Vitascope Clock.

Although the vitascope itself was a motion-picture projector patented by Thomas Armat in 1895 and produced by Edison, Vitascope Clocks involved illuminated dioramas.

These electric clocks featured a model ship - thought to be a replica of the tea clipper Cutty Sark (launched in 1869) - riding on an oval-shaped cam so it rocks and pitches. The cases were made in various colours including cream, white, brown, green and pink.

Vitascope Clock was a product of Vitascope Industries on the Isle of Man. They were produced from c.1946-50.

Series of events

The Chester fair runs twice a year, and is the first in a series for organiser Cooper Events which also runs Cotswolds and Harrogate fairs before the end of November.

Also standing at the event are Hickmet Fine Arts, Fashion Fandango, Midwinter Antiques and Not Wanted on Voyage.