A FRENCH GILT ANGLAISE CASED REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH F...

Estimate

£2,500 - £3,500

A FRENCH GILT ANGLAISE CASED REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH FINE FIGURAL PAINTED PORCELAIN PANELSPROBABLY BY GAY LAMAILLE AND COMPANY FOR RETAIL BY JOHN HALL, PARIS, CIRCA 1890The eight-day two train gong striking movement with silvered platform lever escapement regulated by sprung split bimetallic balance, the backplate with stamped oval panel inscribed PATENT SURETY ROLLER to centre over serial number 1881 to lower left-hand corner, the circular white enamel Roman numeral dial inscribed JOHN HALL, PARIS to centre and with Arabic five minutes beyond the outer minute track, with blued steel moon hands set within a fine symmetrical foliate scroll engraved gilt brass mask, the bevel glazed satin gilt brass anglaise case with hinged reeded baton carrying handle over cavetto cornice, fluted frieze and turned three-quarter Doric columns to angles, the sides inset with porcelain panels finely painted in the manner of Alma Tadema with young girls within garden courtyard settings, the rear with pin-hinged gilt brass door, on generous cavetto moulded skirt base with conforming fluted band to upper margin and shallow block feet.17cm (6.5ins) high with handle down, 10cm (4ins) wide, 9cm (3.5ins) deep. The firm of Gay, Lamaille and Company and their patent for the 'surety roller' is discussed by Thomas R. Wotruba in his article The story behind 'PATENT SURETY ROLLER' stamped on carriage clocks published in 'ANTIQUARIAN HOROLOGY' June 2019 (pages 239-47). Wotruba describes how the Patent Surety Roller (a mechanism which prevents the strike star wheel from accidentally jumping out-of-sync whilst the clock is being transported) was invented by Moritz Immisch for which he received a brevet in 1879. The patent was subsequently secured by Messrs Gay, Lamaille and Company of Paris and London. One of the firm's founders, Emile Gay(e), is recorded as working at 20 Red Lion Square, London in 1861 before going into partnership with a clockmaker named Vicarino and setting up operations at 5 rue Beranger, Paris. In around 1877-78 George Lamaille replaced Vicarino forming Gay, Lamaille and Company who through their strong connections with London supplied many of the leading English retailers such as Dent, Frodsham and Lund & Blockley during the latter years of the 19th century.