Beschreibung:

A FINE FRENCH ENGRAVED GILT BRASS REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK IN ONE-PIECE CASEBOLVILLER, PARIS, CIRCA 1840-50 The eight-day bell striking movement with a frosted gilt platform lever escapement regulated by sprung bimetallic balance, the backplate stamped with oval BOLLVILLER, A PARIS trademark and numbered W, 710 to centre, the rectangular engine-turned silvered dial with small curved panel signed BOLLVILLER A PARIS bordering the lower inside edge of the slender Roman numeral chapter ring and with blued steel Breguet style moon hands, the bevel glazed one-piece caddy moulded case with hinged simple baton carrying handle incorporating tapered scroll engraved uprights above large top glass and fine continuous foliate trail and geometric border engraved rails and uprights, the rear with intensely engraved door decorated with hatched foliate strapwork and incorporating shutters for the winding and adjustment squares, on conforming cavetto moulded skirt base with recessed sections to angles.14.5cm (5.75ins) high with handle down, 10cm (4ins) wide, 8cm (3,125ins) deep. Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands. Bolviller is recorded in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development (page 432) as working from several addresses in Paris from 1830 until after 1870. Bollviller are known for being relatively early and inventive makers of fine French carriage clocks. Bolviller appears to have entered into partnership with C.P. Gontard in the 1840's as a Brevet was granted to both makers for a lever chronometer escapement in 1848. Gontard went on to show carriage clocks in London 1851 and patent two further related escapements and produce carriage clocks under his name alone.