Clock · Novelty automaton timepiece

French silvered and gilt brass novelty automaton windmill timepiece

Partially verified

This late 19th-century French novelty industrial timepiece is modelled as a stone-bonded windmill tower and attributed by the auctioneer to André Romain Guilmet. The case incorporates a silvered brass Roman numeral time dial positioned beneath an aneroid barometer, along with side thermometer scales. The internal eight-day circular timepiece movement utilizes a platform cylinder escapement stamped with serial number 2693. A separate spring-driven movement in the lower base originally powered automaton windmill sails. Resting on a black marble base, the piece features miniature architectural details including windows and a hinged doorway enclosing the automaton winding square.

Full front view of the windmill tower timepiece with aneroid barometer, dial, and plinth base on black marble — Dreweatts. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: auctions.dreweatts.com
Category: Clock · Novelty automaton timepiece
Maker / attribution: André Romain Guilmet (attributed)
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 98
Source-reported date: late 19th century
Country: France
Source-reported serial: 2693

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Object Description and Attribution

This novelty automaton timepiece, attributed by the auctioneer to André Romain Guilmet, dates to the late 19th century. The piece is modelled as a windmill tower constructed of silvered and gilt brass.

The tower structure features a slightly flared cylindrical upright rendered with bonded blocks. It is supported by a circular plinth base, which includes a pierced foliate brass gallery and a moulded brass skirt, all resting on a circular black marble plinth.

Evidence for this section

“ATTRIBUTED TO ANDRE ROMAIN GUILMET, LATE 19th CENTURY”
“the case modelled as a windmill tower with the slightly flared cylindrical upright rendered with bonded blocks”
“circular plinth base with foliate pierced brass gallery”
“with moulded brass skirt set on a circular black marble plinth”

Timepiece and Automaton Mechanisms

The timepiece utilizes an eight-day, single-train circular movement equipped with a platform cylinder escapement and a monometallic balance. The movement is stamped with the serial number 2693.

A secondary, separate spring-driven movement located within the lower base is designed to power the windmill sail automaton. Access to the winding square for this movement is provided via a hinged miniature door, which is flanked by dummy windows.

Evidence for this section

“The eight-day single train circular timepiece movement with platform cylinder escapement regulated by monometallic balance vertically planted on the backplate next to stamped serial number 2693”
“spring-driven windmill sail automata movement contained within”
“hinged miniature door enclosing the winding square”
“flanked by dummy windows”

Dials and Integrated Instruments

The primary time display is a 2.25-inch circular silvered brass dial with Roman numerals and a recessed gilt center, viewed through a hinged bevel-glazed bezel.

Positioned beneath this dial is an aneroid barometer. The device includes a silvered scale calibrated in millimetres of mercury and a recording pointer. Additionally, the sides of the tower feature applied thermometer scales for Fahrenheit, Centigrade, and Réaumur.

Evidence for this section

“the 2.25 inch circular silvered brass Roman numeral dial with recessed gilt centre behind hinged bevel-glazed bezel”
“positioned beneath a BAROMETRE ANEROIDE with conforming gilt centre and silvered scale calibrated in millimetres of mercury”
“incorporating a recording pointer”
“applied FAHRENHEIT opposing CENTIGRADE and REAUMUR thermometer scales to the sides”

Open research questions

What defines the completeness of the automaton pulley system in functional models of this series?
Are there additional surviving examples of this specific windmill model in public or private collections for structural comparison?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for French silvered and gilt brass novelty automaton windmill timepiece
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker attribution	Attributed to André Romain Guilmet	“ATTRIBUTED TO ANDRE ROMAIN GUILMET, LATE 19th CENTURY”
Movement serial number	2693	“next to stamped serial number 2693”
Escapement	Platform cylinder escapement	“platform cylinder escapement regulated by monometallic balance vertically planted on the backplate”
Dial diameter	2.25 inches	“the 2.25 inch circular silvered brass Roman numeral dial”
Dimensions	47 cm high overall by 17 cm diameter at base	“47cm (18.5ins) high overall, 17cm (6.75ins) diameter at the base.”
Overall Dimensions	47 cm high, 17 cm base diameter	“47cm (18.5ins) high overall, 17cm (6.75ins) diameter at the base.”
Tower Height	41 cm	“The tower 41cm (16.25ins) high”

Visible details

Conical metal roof topped by a small finial over a cylindrical block-patterned tower.
Vertically arranged circular aneroid barometer mounted directly above the clock dial.
Pierced foliate brass balcony rail encircling the upper edge of the plinth base.
Miniature hinged doorway and dummy rectangular windows set into the circular lower drum.

Research qualifications

Source notes the windmill sail assembly is missing.
One thermometer tube is noted as lacking and the automaton pulley mechanism is incomplete.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

AN INCOMPLETE FRENCH SILVERED AND GILT BRASS NOVELTY AUTOMATON WINDMILL TIMEPIECE

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record c92d33520f

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.