239.              $1500

Black Forest monk’s bell-ringer shelf clock,ca. 1880.  A 36-inch oak or walnut case with an old finish and patina.  Great carvings on the front, base, and bell tower; the top cross is a replacement and there is a split in the front of the base.  The bone hands are intricately carved.  The monk in the door has lost his arms, but he still rings the bell (the bell in the belfry does move with his ringing, but the bim-bam tone comes from two hammers striking a bell on the back of the movement).  The door pops open and the monk rings the hours and half-hours.  The movement is brass, unsigned, presumably running 8 days.  $1500–$3000.