Charles Joseph, Paris for Vrard & Co., Shanghai, an engraved...

Hammer

£650

Charles Joseph, Paris for Vrard & Co., Shanghai, an engraved French Cannalée carriage clock, the eight-day duration movement having a platform lever escapement and striking the hours and half-hours on a bell with the strike-work set on the movement backplate, with subsidiary alarm sounding on a bell set within the base, engraved to the backplate with the Chinese lettering, the inside of the plates stamped with the trademark Ch. Joseph, Paris, and numbered 689, 2473, the white enamel dial with black Roman numerals, blued-steel moon hands, a sweep seconds hand, subsidiary alarm dial and signed L. Vrard & Co., Shanghai, Hankrow, the Cannalée case with engraved floral decoration, height 17.5cm/15cm, handle up/down, with travelling box. Biography Charles P.H. Joseph, Rue Amelot 114, Paris, is recorded as showing carriage clocks at the Paris Exhibition of 1889 and 1900, where he was awarded a Gold Medal. Tardy gives him working dates from 1852 until 1935. It is known he worked as the horologist at the Paris Observatory. Charles Joseph, Paris (1738 - 1804), his father, travelled to Canton, China in 1784 and presumably set up trading links which were then carried on by his son. Notes: Alfred Chapuis, Laupe & de Sauisserie, p.31.