A big Austrian late empire / early biedemeier period qurter repeater mantel clock. Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1st hals of the 19th century. Dimensions: height - 43,7 cm; width - 22,9 cm; depth - 17,2 cm. Diameter of the dial - 14,5 cm. The case of rectangular shape made of ebonised wood, partially veneered, with gilt brass mounts around the dial and below it. Top finial modelled as an eagle carved of wood, gilded and silvered. One side with drilled hole for string activating the repetition. Elaborate Austrian early 19th century silk suspension movement striking hours, half-hours and quarters on two coiled gongs, with repetition function, so called 'grande sonnerie' (info below); white enamel on copper dial with black Arabic numerals, dark oxidized iron hands. The clock comes with pendulum and winding key, both most probably original. Grande sonnerie (French, meaning 'grand strike') is a quarter striking mechanism combined with a repeater. On each quarter hour, it chimes the current hours and quarters past the hour. Depending on the design of the sonnerie either the hours, or quarters can be sounded first. For this clock: at 6:15 it would strike once on one gong, then strike six times on other gong. At 6:30 it would strike twice on the first gong, then six times on the second. At 6:45 three times on first gong, then six times on the second gong, and at 7:00 it would strike four times on the first gong, then seven times on the second gong. Provenance: private collection, Plzen (Prague area), Czech Republic Conditions report: case in good condition with some age-related wear, some marks, dents, scratches. Two small pieces of veneer missing (lower conrners). Cracks due to the drying of the wood. Few replacements of the veneer visible. Traces of wood-worms (not active), mostly in lower part of the case. The case seems to be extensively restored some time ago with several parts replaced or was re-built using old and new elements, difficult to judge. Back-door, wood under gongs and legs are for sure of the later date. Wear to gilding and silvering on the eagle. Chips to the dial around mounting screws. Movement in working order, but we recommend overhaul and setting by clockmaster, as it was not cleaned at least 10 years, according to the previous owner. Check pictures for details. Worldwide delivery with online tracking. Shipping by courier only!!!