A MAHOGANY MANTEL CLOCK

Details

A MAHOGANY MANTEL CLOCK
SIGNED JANVIER

The case on plain plinth flanked on eithr side by an ormolu sphynx, with ormolu bun feet, the ormolu bezel with anthemion leaf border and and beading enclosing silvered dial with subsidiary 10-minute ring, signed Janvier, no. 325, above an aperture for a bimetallic thermometer, the circular movement, signed on the plain backplate, Janvier, with anchor escapement, thread suspension to the finely made steel rod pendulum, the separately set hour and minute hands driven directly from train, the silvered dial with roman chapters enclosing subsidiary 10-minute ring, winding aperture, blued steel Breguet hour hand, c. 1800 -- 12 1/2 in. (31.75cm)high

Lot Essay

Antide Janvier (1751-1835) contemporary and rival of A-L. Breguet is remembered chiefly for his elaborate planetary machines. He lacked the latter's business acument and, although he may have produced as many as 500 clocks in his lifetime, he died in poverty. The present example is characteristic of his work. The plain case houses a movement constructed without motion work as in a regulator. Although the pendulum is uncompensated, it is finely finished.