A FRENCH GILT BRASS CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH PUSH-BUTTON REPEATTH...

Estimate

£300 - £500

A FRENCH GILT BRASS CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH PUSH-BUTTON REPEATTHE MOVEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO THE COUAILLET FAMILY, SAINT-NICHOLAS-D' ALIERMONT, LATE 19th CENTURYThe eight-day two train gong striking movement with platform lever escapement regulated by sprung bimetallic balance, the frontplate stamped with number 8200 towards the lower margin and backplate stamped with a direction of wind arrow to centre over further number 8200 to bottom right, the circular cream enamel dial with vertically aligned Arabic hour numerals set within a frosted gilt mask, the gilt brass bevel-glazed anglaise variant case with decorative 'filigree' band decorated hinged carrying handle, over repeat button towards the front edge of the top and cornice incorporating scooped ogee moulding, with fluted three-quarter columns to angles incorporating Egyptian influence caps and bases and the rear with pin hinged door, on ogee-moulded skirt base with shallow block feet; with original tooled Morocco leather covered protective carrying case.The clock 16cm (6.25ins) high with handle down, 14cm (10ins) wide, 9cm 3.5ins) deep; the case 19cm (7.5ins) high, 13cm (5.125ins) wide, 12.5cm (5ins) deep.The hand-setting arrow stamp to the movement backplate of the current lot conforms to that used by the Couaillet family as illustrated in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS Their history and development on page 435. Couaillet Freres are discussed by Leigh Extence in his article The Carriage Clock Makers of Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont published in 'National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors Bulletin' 2020 - where they are described as being one of the most prolific of the carriage clock makers of carriage clocks operating from the horological town of Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont (near Dieppe) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1885 Armand Couaillet was employed by the prominent maker Albert Villon, but in 1892 he and his brothers Denis and Ernest set up their own workshops in the centre of the town as Couaillet freres. They increased the size of the concern when buying the house and workshops of Delépine-Barrois across the road in 1912.