From a Dublin deceased estate, the 20in (51cm) high clock had been bought many years ago from a Dublin clock dealer and had been in the same family ever since.
It was signed by the Parisian maker J.F. Houdin and had an automaton movement with a Chinese magician performing a two-cup trick on a table over a stepped base.
The clock was raised on cast dragon feet and placed on an oval white Carrara marble free-standing base.
The case was thought to date from c.1835 with the movement from 1867.
“This was a once in a lifetime find,” said auctioneer Martin Bernon. The trade clearly agreed, bidding the clock over its €10,000-15,000 (£6400-9600) estimate. But it was an Irish private buyer who outbid them all to take the clock at €26,000 (£16,600).
£16,600 Paris magic pulls clock trade to Dublin
MAJOR players from the English and Continental clock trade travelled to Dublin on May 1 for the sale of this important and rare 19th century ormolu-cased French automaton clock, right, at O’Reilly’s (15% buyer’s premium).
