Back to Page 10

 c.1855 Giant English Gilt-Bronze Rococo Style Striking Chronometer Carriage Clock with Simple Calendar, French, Royal Exchange, London

A very rare Victorian gilt-bronze striking chronometer carriage clock with both date and day. The large elaborately decorated gilt-bronze two tier cast case has numerous floral mounts including garlands and cornucopia, a curvilinear cast handle set between Neptune masks above a glazed escapement viewing aperture, and several figures throughout that include two reclining cherubs centered above the front and back openings, cherubs at the four corners that sit above the Nerieds and Tritons and four dolphins feet.
The elaborately engraved silvered dial has Roman numerals for the hours, wonderful trefoil steel hands for the time, both day and date dials, is signed by the maker, ‘French, Royal Exchange, London’ and is bordered by a thick silvered reflecting edge that conforms to the opening in the case.
The high quality twin fusee chronometer movement is signed on the backplate by the maker, ‘French, Royal Exchange, London’, has five screwed posts, maintaining power, both four and five spoke wheelwork, a high quality balance platform above and strikes the hours and the half-hours on a gong that is mounted to the backplate. Also carried through the backplate are both the winding arbors, the hand set arbor, a strike/silent lever, and levers to advance both the day and date.
The high quality balance platform is elaborately engraved on all the horizontal plates, has a bimetallic split balance wheel with adjusting screws, a steel detent and a steel helical balance spring.
Although there are known examples of this case style, they unusually have French movements and occasionally are fitted with porcelain panels. The combination of such an elaborate case with an English striking chronometer movement with calendar work is extremely rare and was certainly a special order by one of French’s customers.
For a similar example see the October 1995 Antiquorum catalogue where there is a very similar example by French that was made for the Spanish Royal Family.
Height: 11.5in. handle-up.

SOLD
c.1840 French Ebonized mantle Clock with Simple Calendar, Lunar Indictors and an Inverted Compensated Pendulum.

A very rare early 19th century French ebonized multi-dial mantle clock with an inverted compensating pendulum. The rectilinear case with well-cast ormolu moldings has the clock and the moon aperture in the center, three dials in the base and the inverted pendulum above. The whole sits within a custom made glazed case with an ebonized base.
The three-silvered engraved dials with ormolu bezels indicate the day, month, date and the 29.5 day lunar cycle. They are controlled by a separate simple calendar mechanism that is tripped each day by the strike work of the clock movement. The simple mechanism also controls an ormolu disc that, in accordance with the 29.5 day moon cycle, moves across the aperture above and blocks the silvered disc thus indicating the progression of the moon phases.
The 9-rod steel and brass grid-iron half-second pendulum has tapered outside steel rods, is hung from a steel suspension spring suspended from an ormolu bracket, has a screwed beat adjustment and has a compensation indicator in the center of the silvered and ormolu lenticular bob. A screw that controls a small steel hand rests on the edge of a bimetallic curve. The curve mimics the compensation in the pendulum and as it expands and contracts the hand moves along a curved scale to indicate in what direction the pendulum is presently compensating.
The eight-day twin barrel movement has a pinwheel escapement and strikes on a bell. At the back is a lever that rests on a square shaft with a star wheel and is connected to the lower movement by a string. As the countwheel turns it pushes over the star wheel that in turn pulls the string and advances the lower movement.
The silvered engraved dial has Roman numerals for the hours, Breguet style steel cut hands and a seconds dial that counts off half-seconds as the clock runs.
The clock has been completely restored and is in pristine condition.
Height with Case: 36in.
Height of Clock: 30in.

SOLD
c.1770 French Ormolu Mantle Clock, Peignat, à Paris.  

A very rare French Louis XVI ormolu mantle clock that depicts a scene from the third act of the celebrated opera ‘Au Deserteur’ by Michel Sedaine and Pierre Monsigny. The architectural case depicts the interior of the prison and has an arcade with two arched doorways flanked by fluted pilasters with Ionic capitals in the background. Beneath it a guard climbs the stairs and an inmate looks out from behind the patinated bars.
In the foreground four soldiers stand at attention beside the swooning woman and her lover. The whole is surmounted by an elaborate military trophy that includes a helmet, a battle-axe and several flags and sits upon a white marble base with cast ormolu mounts and bun feet.
The finely lettered porcelain dial is signed by the clockmaker, ‘Peignat, à Paris’, has Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numbers for the minutes and two finely cast ormolu hands.
The twin-barrel movement with outside countwheel strikes on a bell and still retains its original silk thread suspension with the fast/slow arbor out the dial.
‘Au Deserteur’, first performed at the Comedie Italienne March 6, 1769, was a three part comic French opera that was the collaboration between the playwright Michel Sedaine and the composer Pierre Monsigny. Monsigny later became know as the father of the modern French opera.
Gabriel-Pierre Peignat, the clockmaker, is listed in Tardy’s as dying in 1776.
Height - 21in.
SOLD
c.1885 French White Marble and Gilt-Bronze Mantle Clock, Planchon, a Paris.

Originally designed by Jean-Francois Forty, this very nice quality Victorian Louis XVI style mantle clock was made by the well-known firm Planchon. In the center is a nicely cast gilt-bronze eagle which is draped in garlands and supports the clock between his outstretched wings. The eight-day, twin-barrel movement strikes on a bell, has an anchor escapement and has the maker's stamp on the backplate. The white porcelain dial has black lettering, is signed by the maker and has nicely cut, engraved and extremely decorative gilt-bronze hands. It all sits upon a molded white marble base that is adorned with gilt-bronze mounts and stands on four large stylized feet. The designs for the clock can be seen in La Pendule Francais, pg. 172 and TardyII, pg 14.
SOLD

c.1915 Chelsea Clock Company Ship's Bell Striking Mantel Clock, Serial # 98,965.

A rare early 20 th century cast bronze mantle clock with ship's striking by the Chelsea Clock Company. Listed as the Porter model in the January 1931 Chelsea catalogue it has the serial number, ‘98,965' stamped on the standard eight-day ship's striking lever movement, the bronze case and the carved ebonized mahogany stand. The 8.5in. silvered surface dial is the ‘Special Dial' and has raised bronzed Arabic numbers for the hours and bronzed ornamental hands.

This particular piece is even nicer than the models listed in the catalogue since it has a carved ebonized stand rather than the plain mahogany found on most examples. Although listed as slightly larger in the '31 catalogue, we believe this to be the largest size circa 1915 in which this model was sold. It was marketed by the Chelsea Company as the perfect clock for either a regatta prize or as a clubhouse clock.

Dial Size – 8.5in.

Overall Height – 26.5in.

Overall Width – 20.in

SOLD
c.1930 Swiss Silver Bird Box

An early 20th century Swiss silver bird box. The cast silver open fretwork bejeweled case is decorated with scrolls and floral sprays, ‘jewels’ to the corners of the four panels, a silver lid depicting two cherubs with a bird cage, is backed by blue felt and stands on four small round feet. The plain silver bottom is stamped ‘800’ with two other partial stamps.
When the slide is pushed over the movement is activated and the colorful bird pops up from behind the cast fretwork and sings his song while rotating side to side and flapping his beak and wings.
This unusual piece is a very nice example of the early 20th century bird box industry, has been completely restored and operates as originally designed.
Size: 4.25in. x 2.75in.

SOLD
c.1910 English Fitzroy Marine Barometer  

An early 20th century Fitzroy marine barometer. The brass cylindrical case has a hinged gimbal that allows the barometer to swing freely, pivot and to be able to be locked up against the wall. The inward sloping silvered, engraved scales have inches on one side and a millimeter scale on the other. The vernier is operated by a rack and pinion system controlled by the knob on the side. Access to the screw adjustment and the wooden cistern is gained by unscrewing the lower half of the brass cylindrical base.
The Fitzroy or gun marine barometer was sold from about 1860 by several makers and was first developed as a more sturdy and accurate alternative to the wooden barometers.
For additional information see:
Barometers by Bolle, pg.134, Barometers by Banfield, pgs. 174 and 178.
Height - 38in.
SOLD
1735 Small English Ebonized Bracket Clock, Alexr. Giroust, London.

A very small George II ebonized inverted bell-top bracket clock by the maker Alexander Giroust. The well-proportioned ebonized case has finely turned brasses that include the finials, handle and spandrels, has cast escutcheons that flank the front door and has detailed molded edges on all four glazed sides.
The broken arch dial has cast floral spandrels, silver engraved chapters for the hours, strike/silent and calendar rings and a silver engraved nameplate, ‘Alexr Giroust, London’. The dial also has a finely matted center, an engraved Tudor rose above, finely pierced steel cut hands for the hour, minute and strike/silent adjustment, and apertures for the false pendulum and the calendar. The 5-inch hour chapter has Roman numerals for the hours, diamond marks to the half-hours, Arabic numbers for the five-minute marks and an inside quarter-hour chapter.
The large eight-day double fusee movement with the repeat out the side has five turned and engraved pillars, an engraved back plate and brackets and a crown wheel escapement with a tear drop pendulum. The pallet arbor has a pivot on the front side, a knife-edge on the back and is held in position by an engraved apron.
Much like some of the eminent makers of the period, such as George Graham, Giroust chose to use more simplified markings on the hour chapter ring rather than some of the more elaborate designs. This probably was because of the dial’s smaller size, as elaborate engravings would have made it seem too busy.
Although small bracket clocks of this period are extremely rare, well-proportioned clocks of this size and in this condition are even more desirable.
This superb bracket clock has been completely restored and is in wonderful condition.

Alexander Giroust is listed in ‘Brittens’ as working from 1728-39.
Height – 14in. Handle down.

SOLD

c.1850 Long-Running English Skeleton Timepiece

A very nice and unusual mid-19 th century long-running English skeleton clock. The high quality skeletonized fusee movement with extremely thick plates, six massive screwed pillars, four-spoke wheelwork with extra long collets and an extremely large spring barrel, 4.25 in. diameter, with a correspondingly large fusee. Mounted on top is a large lever balance platform with a split bimetallic balance wheel, a flat balance spring and a fast slow toward the front. The silver engraved chapter ring dial has Roman numerals for the hours, a minute ring, turned posts and steel cut hands.

The movement, as stated in the literature, is designed to run 120 days, but unfortunately we are not nearly courageous enough to wind it up completely and will leave any practical testing to the discretion of the new owner.

This exact clock is pictured in Derek Robert's book ‘British Skeleton Clocks', pgs. 250-251.

The whole sits under a dome with an ebonized base.

Height of Clock – 13.5 in.
SOLD
c.1840 French Ormolu and Silvered Bronze Mantel Clock

A very rare 19th century ormolu and silvered bronze mantel clock commonly referred to as ‘au gastronome’. The clock features a grinning peasant just beginning a wonderful meal that includes chicken, wine, bread, cheese and a dessert all of which is modeled in silvered bronze and sits upon the ormolu table. The mechanism is housed in the table and the whole sits upon a stepped base with silvered food related applied mounts and wine bottles as feet. The finely lettered porcelain dial has black roman numerals, steel Breguet style hands and a cast silvered bezel. The eight-day two-train movement strikes on a bell and still retains its original silk-thread suspension.
Unlike clocks of the earlier periods there is no moral or story. It is a snapshot of an enjoyable moment in everyday life. In portraying such a moment it elevates the ordinary to a higher level, one worthy of reflection.
This is a very rare clock that would be appreciated by both clock and food enthusiasts worldwide.
Height – 13in
SOLD

c.1890 French Gilt and Silvered Bronze Windmill Clock

A completely restored turn-of-the-century animated gilt and silvered bronze windmill clock. The silvered cylindrical brickwork has a gilt bronze conical roof and animated wind veins above, a cast balustrade, timepiece, barometer and two thermometers in the center and windows, a door and a circular molded base below. The whole sits upon a circular black Belgian marble base.

The time-only eight-day movement has a balance wheel escapement and a silvered chapter ring dial with a gilt sunken center. The dial has well-lettered Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numbers for the five-minute marks and steel cut hands. Above the clock sits the Aneroid barometer. It has a silvered dial lettered in French, a steel indicator hand, a brass hand to indicate the last reading and a sunken gilt center. The two gilt-engraved thermometer scales, one for Fahrenheit and the other for both Centigrade and Reamur, both have mercury thermometers.

Mounted in the base is the separate clockwork movement that powers the animation. It is wound through the small door and spins the animated veins via a cord and pulley system for approximately 6 hours per wind.

Fantasy and Industrial clocks became popular during the late 19 th century in response to the Industrial Revolution. Derek Robert's book, ‘Mystery, Novelty, and Fantasy Clocks' is the best work on the subject and gives an informed discussion on all the different aspects of this segment of horology.

The whole has been completely restored and operates as originally designed.

Height – 16in.
SOLD

c.1898 Miniature French Gilt-Bronze Ivory Paneled Carriage Clock.

A very high quality turn-of-the-century gilt-bronze ivory mounted miniature carriage clock. The well-proportioned case with a bowed, reeded handle, reeded corner columns with Corinthian capitals, dental work on the curved top and bottom and engraved masks bordering the painted ivory panels to the sides and the porcelain dial.

The extremely well executed oval painted ivory panels depict Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, are both bordered by superbly engraved masks and are protected by convex oval glasses. They are scribed in ink on the reverse with the names of the subjects and were most likely inspired by the many royal portraits of painters such as Elisabeth LeBrun. Both Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the sister of Louis XVI, were executed during the French Revolution. They became popular subjects during the later half of the 19 th century when the Louis XVI style again flourished.

The finely lettered white porcelain dial has blue Roman numerals for the hours, red Arabic five-minute marks, steel-cut hands and is also surrounded by an engraved mask and protected by a beveled glass.

The high-quality eight-day time-only movement winds and sets through the back, is number ‘2951' and still retains the original balance platform. The silvered platform has a cut bimetallic balance wheel with adjusting screws, a flat balance, a fast-slow lever with a screwed register plate and has a single round cock for all the upper pivots of the escapement.

Both the movement and case are stamped with a capital ‘M'. The front top edge of the case bears the engraved initials ‘RM' and the back edge is engraved with the date ‘1898'.

For a similar case see: Derek Robert's, ‘Carriage Clocks', fig. 6-42.

For similar panels see: ‘Fine Carriage Clocks' by Fanelli, pg. 66.

Height - 3in.(handle down)
SOLD

c.1885 French Gilt and Silvered Bronze Animated Lighthouse Clock.

A very nice late 19 th century gilt and silvered bronze animated lighthouse clock. The gilt bronze case is shaped like an early lighthouse with decorative brickwork, silvered windows and door, a cast gilt-bronze balustrade that is supported by silvered posts and has an animated top. The whole sits upon a circular black Belgian marble base.

In the base is the separate spring driven movement that is wound through the door and rotates the top for approximately six hours per wind. The top has a clock, a barometer and two thermometers. The clock has a time only movement with a balance wheel escapement and the fast/slow out the front, a silvered engraved dial with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic five-minute marks, steel cut hands and a sunken gilt bronze center. The aneroid barometer has a silvered circular well-lettered scale, a gilt hand to register the last reading and a steel cut hand to register the current barometric pressure. To the sides are the two thermometer scales each with mercury tubes, one showing the temperature in Fahrenheit while the other in both Centigrade and Reaumur.

The whole has been completely restored.

For additional reading on Industrial clocks see: ‘Mystery, Novelty and Fantasy Clocks' by Derek Roberts.

Height – 17in.
SOLD

c.1839 Massive Ormolu Figural Mantle clock, Balthazard a Paris.

This massive firegilt Charles X mantel clock by Balthazard is meant to be viewed in the round. A true Bacchalian feast with both music and drink, the rockwork scene includes elaborate garlands and numerous well cast and modeled figures of cherubs, satyrs, and animals. They wrap around the base creating a continuous scene meant to be viewed from all sides. The clock culminates in a wonderfully twisting figure of a Bacchante completely immersed in the celebration. The eight-day two-train movement has the very unusual combination of a pinwheel escapement with a silk thread suspension. This necessitates a very heavy brass bound lead filled cylindrical pendulum with a screwed beat adjustment. The springs are dated 1839 and both the movement and the white porcelain dial with finely lettered blue numerals are signed Balthazard a Paris. Height 29.5in.
SOLD

c.1880 Swiss Engraved Gilt and Silvered Bronze Bird Box

A very nice late 19 th century engraved gilt and silvered bronze bird box. The high quality case is elaborately decorated with wonderful floral engraving on an engine turned ground, has unusually chamfered corners and has a silvered and engraved pop-up lid that depicts two birds in flight amongst scrolling foliage. When activated the colorful bird pops up, rotates side-to-side, flaps his wings, tail and ivory beak and sings an unusual song. When finished it disappears below the detailed fretwork panel as the lid slams closed.

It comes with its original case and is in restored condition.

Overall Size – 4in.x 2 5/8 in.x 1 1/2 in.
SOLD

c. 1885 Carved Black Forest Mantle Clock.

A very large late 19 th century carved Black Forest mantle clock. The clock is located in the center of a large carved rockwork scene surmounted by two well-carved eagles with outstretched wings, the lower with a dead sheep in its claws. Below are several scenes set amongst the crisply carved foliage and rockwork that include a family of sheep in the center and a young boar and a rabbit to the corners. The whole sits upon an ebonized serpentine base and has a peaked housing mounted to the back to enclose the movement and gong.

The eight day time and strike French movement has a Brocot escapement mounted through the dial and strikes on a gong mounted within the case. The porcelain dial has a sunken center, Roman numerals for the hours, the clocks escapement with jeweled pallets and patinated spade hands.

The size, subject matter and quality of carving make this a wonderful clock for anyone who either collects carved pieces or who wants a good representation of this segment of horology. Since the makers of the cases were often farmers, without any true horological knowledge, supplementing their incomes during the winter months they often purchased completed French movements for their clocks. The whole is in restored condition.

Height – 44 in.
SOLD
c.1840 Walnut Six-Pane Vienna Regulator, Josef Elsner.

A very rare Viennese Biedermeier six-pane regulator by Josef Elsner. The wonderfully figured and colored walnut case has six glass panes, an architectural top and most unusually a lift-out door. Instead of the door being hinged like almost all of this period, the door lifts out like those found on earlier clocks.
The finely lettered flat porcelain dial has nicely cut steel hands, Roman numerals for the hours and a nicely cast, wide engine-turned bezel.
The high quality eight-day weight-driven time-only movement has a dead-beat escapement with a silk-thread suspension, is driven by a polished brass weight and pulley and is suspended from a hook in the back of the case. The movement is further adjusted within the case by two adjusting screws that are supported by a bar mounted to the back of the movement. The back of the case has no adjusting screws and is steadied to the wall by two small spikes. The pendulum has a large polished friction set brass bob with a strap on the back through which the steel rod passes. The bob is merely slid up or down to adjust the timekeeping. This set-up, the internal leveling system and the silk-thread suspension, is rarely seen on other makers clocks.
Early Vienna regulators are certainly not common, but this particular clock is much rarer than most since it not only has the lift-out door, but also the unusual set-up used by Josef Elsner. The clock is in wonderfully restored condition and would make a fine and unusual addition to any collection.
For a very similar clock see: ‘Viennese Clockmakers and What They left Us’ by Claterbos, pg. 57-58.
Josef Elsner is listed in the same book as becoming a master in 1838 and dying in 1856.
Height – 39.5 in.
SOLD


Jump to Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11