German fire gilded brass highly complicated coach clock Circa 1770

Gilt verge with grande sonnerie repeater and alarm
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An important and highly complicated coach clock with grande sonnerie, repeater and alarm made by Arvied Hielckert in Potsdam, Germany, circa 1770. This watch, which was crafted from fire gilt brass, is pair cased. The back lid of the outer case is covered with leather and the front bezel pierced with sound holes, the plain inner case has a bell and four winding holes on the back for the movement and the three further complications. The white enamel dial has black Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions and, probably original, decorative hands. The numbered full plate movement has a highly complicated verge escapement, three decorated barrels and applied decoration with the representation of various mythical creatures and foliage, which is signed Schmidt London.
The movement is signed.
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Diameter: 175 mm
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Weight: 2.700 g
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Signed: Arvied Hielckert Potsdam
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The Schmidt signature is either a seller’s signature in London, an owner’s engraving, or a signature to make it appear that the clock was made in London, as was common with many Friedberg clocks. However, this rarity is German, made by Arvied Hielckert in Potsdam.
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Hielckert
Arvied Hielckert was a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, but in the 2^nd half of the 18^th century he worked in Potsdam, Berlin, Germany. He was appointed senior master in 1790.
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The clock presented here is one of the most important German coach clocks preserved today, especially because of its large size and complicated movement.
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The extremely splendid and very rare movement decoration reminds of well known Friedberg and Augsburg clocks of the time, which were also sold with London signatures.