Franz Fortner Sold at Auction Prices

Franz Xaver Fortner, marquetery grandfather clock

Grandfather clock with elaborate inlay decoration. 1830-1850. Rosewood with rich inlays in various precious woods, brass, mother-of-pearl. Profiled headboard with volute-like curved struts attached to the sides, inlaid decor with vases and tendrils in the spandrels. Round metal dial with Arabic indices. Body with lush tendrils with set flowers, birds and figures. Lower part with inlaid tendrils with lions and parrots, above the base two mirrored sphinxes. 207 x 58 x 28 cm. Dial marked: Biergans. Inscribed Cap.IX No32 on the inside of the door and inscribed on the label: Privat-Eigentum Sr. Königl. Hoheit des Herzogs Carl Eduard. (Private property of his royal Highness the Duke Carl Eduard). Provenance: The watch comes from the personal possession of his royal highness Karl Eduard Grand Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Enclosed expertise from the year 1978 from Karlheinz Müller, Villmar-Aumenau / Limburg. Franz Xaver Fortner (1798-1877) was one of the most famous cabinet makers of his time in southern Germany. In 1826 he founded his company in Munich and worked mainly for the nobility. In 1842 he employed 30 journeymen. His specialties include furniture with rich inlays, such as this grandfather clock. Furniture by Franz Xaver Fortner can be found in the Munich City Museum and the Bavarian National Museum in Munich.