185.           $450

EN Welch Mfg. Co. “Scalchi” ca. 1885-1893.  If the Khedive is difficult to find, the Scalchi is near impossible.  Collectors have sacrificed limbs for one of these, but that was back in the day.  The “Polished Black Walnut” case is 20 inches tall with all the finials in place and correct.  The door glass is original and came with and without the gilding.  The dial is porcelain with only the faintest of hairlines, the hands are Patti hands.  The interior retains the black flocking, there is a label on the back cover.  The Patti 8-day, time and half-hour strike movement will run briefly and strikes as expected; oiling at a minimum, cleaning more likely is needed.  The Scalchi is shown on pages 356-357 of Ly’s Second Edition of Welch Clocks; it was named after Sofia Scalchi, an Italian opera singer who made her American premier in 1883, appearing in Faust with the Metropolitan Opera.  Two Scalchi’s sold in 2o20 for $450 and $480. $450-$550.

Kudos to Robert Briggs for the reference, E. N. Welch, Tribute to the Opera, 1868-1893.