A very rare early 18th century pewter and brass-inlaid Italian table clock with six-hour dial Francesco Papillion, Firenze The break-fronted case surmounted by an elaborate cast handle over a stepped caddy top with moulded edges over the architrave with an inset silk-backed blind sound fret, the sides with long glazed panels, on a moulded base and bun feet, the 5 inch silvered dial marked I to VI framed by a minute ring marked in tens for each hour, with single blued steel hand, mounted on an engraved gilt brass dial plate signed in an engraved cartouche within a pattern of strapwork, scrolls and flowers on a matted ground, the small rectangular movement plates united by four baluster pillars pinned through the backplate, with single 'tandem barrel' driving both wheel trains, the going train with verge escapement (the 'scape wheel mounted at an angle) to a short verge bob pendulum mounted on silk within cycloidal cheeks, the strike train sounding on a vertical bell. Ticking and striking, together with a winding key. 49cms (1ft 7ins) high. Footnotes: There is little information about Francesco Papillion. There are only a few signed clocks by him which include a night clock in the Getty Museum and an alarm watch in the British Museum. Archival records in Florence show that Papillion entered the clockmaker's guild in 1705. The six hour clock was used in Italy, especially in the Papal States, until the end of the 18th century, when Napoleon replaced it with the 12 hour system. The six hour, or 'Roman time' started just after sunset with the evening prayers, and worked around the Canonical hours. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com