Gavin Douglas Fine Antiques

Gavin Douglas Fine Antiques Fine Antique Clocks and Decorative Gilt Bronze

12/09/2026

An exceptional French Boulle singing bird box, attributed to Flajoulot, Paris, circa 1895.

A wonderful example of the extraordinary mechanical novelties produced in Paris at the end of the 19th century.

The case is particularly striking, richly decorated in the Boulle manner with tortoiseshell and finely cut brass inlay, creating an exceptionally luxurious setting for the automaton concealed within.

At the touch of the mechanism, the lid opens and a tiny feathered bird rises from beneath. Turning, fluttering its wings and moving its beak and tail, it performs its remarkably lifelike song before disappearing back into the case and the lid closes above it.

The box is attributed to Flajoulot of Paris, a maker associated with some of the finest French singing-bird boxes of the late 19th century.

The combination of intricate Boulle work and mechanical automaton makes this a particularly unusual and decorative example — a miniature piece of Parisian mechanical theatre from the Belle Époque.

Attributed to Flajoulot, Paris
Circa 1895

A remarkable Thomas Cole strut clock, made for Barry of London, numbered 1253, circa 1855.A particularly rare and lavish...
11/09/2026

A remarkable Thomas Cole strut clock, made for Barry of London, numbered 1253, circa 1855.

A particularly rare and lavish interpretation of Thomas Cole’s celebrated strut clock, the finely engraved gilt-brass case is set with no fewer than 22 amethyst cabochons, including the magnificent large stones forming the crest and lower corners.

The combination of Cole’s extraordinarily intricate engraving with the rich purple of the amethysts gives the clock an almost jewel-like quality — surely one of the more exotic variations of his strut clock design.

Signed Thomas Cole and retailed by Barry, London, circa 1855, it dates from the height of Cole’s production, when his inventive designs and exceptional metalwork had established him amongst the most distinctive English clockmakers of the Victorian period.

The first photograph imagines the clock back in the surroundings of a fashionable mid-Victorian London retailer, while the second shows the clock as it survives today — 170 years later.

Thomas Cole for Barry, London | c.1855 | 22 amethyst cabochons

10/09/2026

The peak of the Geneva singing bird box maker’s art.
Created by Frères Rochat circa 1815, this extraordinary box demonstrates just how far the Rochat brothers were prepared to push the complexity of these miniature mechanical masterpieces.

The richly decorated gold and enamel case incorporates three entirely separate mechanical functions: the celebrated Rochat singing bird automaton, a watch set into the front of the case, and, remarkably, a completely independent musical movement.

The combination is exceptional. Rather than relying solely upon the bird's song, the Rochats incorporated a separate musical mechanism alongside the intricate bellows, cams and movement required to animate the bird itself — all contained within a box small enough to sit in the palm of the hand.

Its sumptuous cobalt-blue enamel, seed-pearl borders and finely painted enamel scene are entirely worthy of the mechanics concealed within.

By around 1815, Frères Rochat were working at the very summit of Geneva's mechanical and decorative arts, producing singing bird boxes of a sophistication that few makers could rival. A box combining singing bird, watch and independent musical movement represents this extraordinary period at its most ambitious.

Frères Rochat, Geneva, circa 1815.

08/09/2026

✨ An exceptional early gold singing bird box by Frères Rochat, Geneva, circa 1815.

A wonderful example from the golden age of Swiss mechanical automata, made by the celebrated Rochat family, whose singing bird boxes rank among the finest and most sought-after ever produced.

At the touch of the slide, the exquisitely feathered bird rises from beneath its gold lid, turning, fluttering its wings and opening its beak as it performs its remarkably lifelike song.

One of the great distinctions of the Rochat singing bird is its song itself. Rather than simply producing a succession of birdsong and trills, Rochat incorporated a recognisable musical melody into the performance, interwoven with the bird's calls. It gives their birds an unusually complex and musical voice and is one of the characteristics that sets the finest Rochat boxes apart from those of other makers.

When the performance ends, the bird disappears back into the box and the lid closes above it.
The finely worked gold case is a work of art in its own right, but concealed within is the extraordinary miniature mechanism that made the Rochat name famous.

Made in Geneva circa 1815 — over two centuries ago — and still capable of enchanting its audience today.

29/08/2026

A superb Swiss silver and guilloché enamel quarter-repeating clock by H. Moser & Cie, made for the Russian market, circa 1900.

H. Moser & Cie occupied a fascinating position in 19th-century Russian horology. Founded by the Swiss watchmaker Heinrich Moser, the firm established itself in St Petersburg and became one of the most prestigious names supplying watches and timepieces to the Russian market, with connections to the Russian Imperial Court.

This exceptional little clock reflects that world of luxury. The beautifully engine-turned guilloché enamel case is mounted in silver and houses a high-quality Swiss movement with quarter-repeating mechanism. At the press of the repeater, the clock audibly strikes the hours followed by the quarter-hours — allowing the time to be determined in darkness, a complication that was both technically sophisticated and highly prized.

Bearing both Swiss silver marks and Russian marks, it is a particularly evocative example of the close relationship between Swiss precision watchmaking and Imperial Russian taste at the turn of the 20th century.

A wonderfully rare combination of Moser, guilloché enamel, Russian provenance and quarter repeating complication.

H. Moser & Cie
Swiss, made for the Russian market
Circa 1900

25/08/2026

A superb English Regency ormolu mantel clock depicting Cybele, Mother of the Gods, circa 1810.

One of the most ancient deities of the classical world, Cybele was revered as the great Mother Goddess, her origins stretching back through Greek and Roman mythology to Phrygia and, it is believed, the Neolithic period.

Here she is magnificently modelled in patinated bronze, seated majestically upon an elaborate ormolu throne, the contrast between the dark bronze figure and richly gilded case particularly striking. A fascinating detail is the bezel surrounding the dial, decorated with the twelve signs of the Zodiac, reinforcing the clock's celestial and mythological symbolism.

The composition has remarkable classical precedent: a 3rd-century BC marble figure of Cybele in the Museum of the Ancient Agora, Athens, displays notably similar characteristics.

A wonderfully sculptural example of the fascination with antiquity and classical mythology that flourished during the English Regency.

English, circa 1810.

18/08/2026

Industrial ingenuity meets horology. ⚓️

A superb and wonderfully eccentric French industrial lighthouse clock by André Romain Guilmet, circa 1890.

Guilmet was one of the great innovators of late
19th-century French novelty clockmaking, transforming the machinery and engineering triumphs of the age into ingenious mechanical timepieces. His celebrated industrial series included steam engines, locomotives, ships’ wheels and lighthouses.

Here, the clock is incorporated into the architecture of a miniature lighthouse, while the revolving lantern/lens above is driven by the movement, bringing the whole piece wonderfully to life.

These lighthouse clocks are among the most recognisable and desirable of Guilmet’s industrial creations — a brilliant marriage of engineering, sculpture and horology from the great age of mechanical invention.

French, circa 1890.

15/08/2026

An exceptional survivor from the very earliest years of the Swiss musical box. 🎶

This remarkably fine silver-gilt musical s***f box was made in Geneva in 1813, its movement beautifully signed and dated in script:
“Jn. Pre. Désire, à Genève, fécit an. 1813.”

The early cylinder movement plays a complex single air through a 23-part sectional comb, with the teeth arranged in pairs — a fascinating glimpse into the sophisticated construction of these earliest musical

The case is equally impressive: solid silver-gilt, exquisitely engine-turned in contrasting yellow and rose-gold tones, with elaborate fan, thistle, leaf and swag decoration over an exceptionally fine petit-point ground.

At over 210 years old, its remarkable condition and quality make it a particularly rare example from the formative period of the Swiss musical box.

Geneva, 1813.

#1813 Antiques

10/08/2026

💛 Imperial Yellow Guilloché Enamel

A particularly beautiful Swiss miniature carriage or travel alarm clock, circa 1910, combining finely worked silver with exceptionally vibrant imperial yellow guilloché enamel.

The clock is raised on a polished agate base, the natural tones of the stone providing a wonderful contrast to the brilliant translucent yellow enamel.

Despite its diminutive proportions, this is a remarkably luxurious little object, made at a time when Swiss makers were producing some of their finest jewelled travelling clocks.

The movement is signed Nocturne and E. Mathey, and the clock remarkably retains its original fitted leather travelling case.

A wonderful example of early 20th-century Swiss craftsmanship — part timepiece, part jewel.
Swiss, circa 1910.

08/08/2026

A remarkable rarity from the French Art Deco period ✨🐦🎶

This exceptional silver and enamel double singing bird box and musical cigarette case combines two mechanical entertainments within a single beautifully decorated case.

To one side, opening the compartment reveals a musical cigarette case, the mechanism playing automatically as the lid is raised. To the other, a separate lid opens to reveal a miniature feathered bird, which rises from beneath its pierced grille to sing, turn and flutter before disappearing once more.

While singing bird boxes are themselves highly sought after, double examples such as this are exceptionally rare, combining both a singing bird automaton and musical mechanism within one case.

The silver case is richly decorated in colourful enamel, wonderfully characteristic of the luxury objets de vertu produced in France during the Art Deco period.

A fascinating combination of jewellery, music and automata — and quite possibly one of the rarest forms of singing bird

French, circa 1925–1930.

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