A fine and very rare early 18th century Sicilian ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell table clock with unusual double-six hour and quarter strikeNicolaus Magri, Fecit, Panormi (Palermo)The stepped caddy top with facetted handle over eight turned baluster finials, the lower section of the caddy set with three pressed gilt brass panels over large ebony-framed glazed sides and a moulded front door, on a concave moulded base supported by the figures of four recumbent gilt lions, each with a furrowed brow, flowing mane and intricately detailed claws and fur, the two beasts to the front with their tongues out.The dial:8.75 inches square gilt brass with scroll spandrels framing the wide Roman and Arabic chapter ring, strike/silent (SON/SILENZIO) lever above XII, signed between VIII and IIII 'Nicolaus Magri, Fecit, Panormi', the repousse centre with foliate scrolls, off-set winding squares, alarm winding square, mock pendulum aperture and the alarm-setting disc, with pierced steel handsThe movement:the rectangular plates united by short knopped tapering pillars, the twin spring barrels with outside ratchets and clicks, the going train with pivotted verge to a short pendulum with small bob mounted on a plain hemispherical apron, the striking train with reversed barrel, sounding the quarters and hours on two bells but by one hammer - the rear of the hammer arbor in a traditional pivot, the front of the arbor mounted in a slot so as to allow for the front of the arbor to be lifted in order to strike the larger of the two bells for the hours (see footnote) 58cms (23ins) high.Footnotes:Nicolò Magri was active in Palermo (Kingdom of Sicily) in the first half of the 18th century. The lion feet hark back to the German clocks of the previous century. The striking system of this clock is worthy of closer inspection.There is a single hammer for striking double six hours with quarters on two bells. The front pivot of the hammer arbor is extended and runs in a slot to permit vertical movement within the slot allowing the hammer arbor to rock between the two bells. There are two racks, the quarter rack striking on two bells by an extended arm from the base of the rack which engages the hammer pivot, the final wide gap in the quarter rack allowing this double striking action. It is the quarter rack which finally locks the striking train after both quarter and hour striking.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: YY Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13.