A FINE 18TH CENTURY FRENCH ORMOLU CARRIAGE CLOCK by Beckers ...

Hammer

£1,300

A FINE 18TH CENTURY FRENCH ORMOLU CARRIAGE CLOCK by Beckers of Paris, the case overlaid with sunburst motifs, the dial painted with black numerals, each side with visible crystal glass revealing the movement. 22.5 cm high inc handle. Note: Antoine Beckers (sometimes spelled Bekers) is one of the most important Parisian clockmakers of the early years of the reign of Louis XVI. He signed “Beckers à Paris”. After becoming a master on May 31, 1775, he opened workshops successively in the rue des Cordeliers, then the rue Guénégaud from 1777 to 1779 (see Tardy, Dictionnaire des horlogers français, 1971, p. 37). He soon gained renown among Parisian collectors of luxury horology. Several of his clocks are mentioned by the late 18th century as having belonged to influential collectors; examples are those mentioned in the probate inventory of the widow of Louis-Auguste de Sonning, formerly Receveur-général of finances for the city of Paris, and in the inventory of François-Martial, Count de Choiseul-Beaupré. Note also An identical case also signed by Beckers and noted as 'invented and made by' him was sold by Bonhams 14th July 2022 lot 5, hammer price of £3,200. Another example in the same sale, lot 46, was signed for Thiery, Paris and sold for £4,500. Interestingly, both of these examples used only spring barrels and had anchor or tic-tac escapements, neither had a fusee. Others still are known with balance wheel escapements; vacant holes in the plates suggest that Beckers would offer the choice of balance or pendulum control.