The star of Locke & England’s March 30 sale in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, is this early 19th century Black Forest automata and organ longcase clock.
The 7ft 6in (2.28m) high mahogany clock is surmounted by a royal blue armorial crest over a neo-classical oil depicting the rescue of a stormstranded maiden. The fusee movement and cylinder operates the bellows to play eight songs while a pair of chirping and turning yellow birds open their beaks.