FINE FRENCH GRANDE SONNERIE CARRIAGE CLOCK

FINE FRENCH GRANDE SONNERIE CARRIAGE CLOCK
c. 1870
Height: c. 18 cm (handle up)

Case
The corniche case of this impressive carriage clock has bevelled glass windows on all sides so that the movement is almost entirely visible. The original silvered brass platform escapement can be seen through a large oval window in the top. The clock is surmounted by a shaped carrying handle. At the back is a door giving access to the winding arbors. It has a stamp at the top stating ‘Made in France’, which probably means it was made for the British market. The bottom has an aperture with a steel lever for selecting the type of striking: Grande Sonnerie, Silence, Petite Sonnerie. The latter means quarter striking (on two gongs), the former is also a type of quarter striking, but now the last hour is struck as well (before the quarters).

Dial
The circular white enamel dial is set in a gilt mask and has an Arabic chapter ring with Arabic quarter hour (in red), five-minute and minute divisions. The time is indicated by a pair of finely cut blued-steel hands.

Below is a subsidiary Arabic alarm dial with a small blued-steel hand, which can be set at the back.

Movement
The high-quality spring-driven, eight-day movement is constructed between plates. It consists of going and striking trains, as well as alarm. The going train has an English lever escapement with hairspring balance and regulation, all mounted on a silvered platform. It can be adjusted by a regulator pin which can be seen through the window in the top and is accessible through the back door. The striking indicates the hours as well as the quarters on two gongs. In addition, there is a repeat button on the front, with which the hour and the quarters last struck can be repeated at will.

Price £5250