Beschreibung:

A FINE ENGRAVED GILT BRASS GORGE CASED GRANDE SONNERIE ALARM CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH CALENDAR DROCOURT, PARIS, CIRCA 1880 The eight-day two train movement ting-tang striking the quarters on a graduated pair of gongs and sounding the hour every quarter hour on the larger of the two, with silvered platform lever escapement and alarm mechanism positioned to the top left sounding on the smaller gong, the inside of the front plate stamped 1172 and the backplate with stamped oval D C trademark for Drocourt to centre left over serial number 15785 to the lower left corner, the dial with circular white enamel Roman numeral disc incorporating Arabic five minutes to outer track and with blued steel moon hands, set within a fine foliate scroll engraved matted ground rectangular mask incorporating conforming subsidiary alarm setting flanked by day-of-the-week and date-of-the-month calendar dials to lower margin, the frosted gilt bevel-glazed gorge case with leafy trail decorated hinged lobed carrying handle over oval top glass within symmetrical scroll engraved recessed panel and with repeat button to front rail, with geometric wavy band and foliate trail engraved complex upper mouldings over bright-cut decorated channelled corner uprights, the rear with pin-hinged glazed door, on generous ogee-shaped base further engraved with a wavy band of over rococo scrollwork onto a matted ground, the underside with STRIKING/SILENT/FULL STRIKING selection lever. 14.5cm (5.75ins) high with handle down, 10cm (4ins) wide, 8.5cm (3.375ins) deep. Provenance: Previously sold at Bonhams, London sale of FINE CLOCKS 12th December 2018 (lot 17) for £6,875. Pierre Drocourt is recorded in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development with further additions and corrections from research undertaken by Leigh Extence (available online) as born in 1819 and setting up in business as a clockmaker in Paris in 1853. He initially worked from Rue Limoges (later called 28 Rue Debelleyme after the rationalisation and merger of Streets in 1865), Paris and was succeeded by his son, Alfred (born 1847), in 1872. The blancs roulants, rough movements, were made in Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, a town outside Dieppe, where Drocourt had workshops until their sale in 1904, being premises purchased from Holingue frères in 1875 who had previously supplied Drocourt. The firm was awarded numerous international exhibition medals and mentions including Silver in Paris 1878 and Gold in 1889. Condition Report: Movement is complete, clean and appears all-original with no visible evidence of alteration or with noticeable replacements. Clock is running with the grande-sonnerie striking operating correctly including the selection lever to the base. The alarm is also in working condition and the calendar functions are operational with each advancing around midnight. The dial appears free from visible damage or other faults. The case is in fine condition with no discernible wear or discolouration/mellowing to the gilding. The glasses appear free from visible damage/chips. Clock generally is in very fine condition throughout. Clock has a winding/setting key. Condition Report Disclaimer