Standing 3ft 2in (94cm) high, it is carved with a hunter holding a rifle with a buck over his shoulder and a hare, beaver and three partridges emerging from the stump and roots below. It houses a typical late 19th century French striking movement by Japy Frères.
The clock came for sale at W&H Peacock (17.5% buyer’s premium) in Bedford on January 3 from a vendor whose family has owned it since 1939. Estimated at £3000-5000, it took £7600.
Huggler was ranked the ‘King of Carvers’ among the estimated 1300 artisans who plied their trade in Brienz at the turn of the 20th century. By tradition, these figures of young huntsmen that appear in a number of similar works are self-portraits by Huggler, who was well known as a poacher in the region. Only a small portion of his work is signed.
