A Swiss ormolu-mounted mahogany seconds-beating grande sonnerie travelling clock with alarm

ROBERT. FIRST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Details

A Swiss ormolu-mounted mahogany seconds-beating grande sonnerie travelling clock with alarm
Robert. First quarter 19th century
The case with ormolu handle to the top cast as two addorsed dolphins, ormolu bezel to the circular escapement aperture, circular ormolu door frame to the reverse with a rope-twist bezel, plain moulded base on hairy paw feet, the white enamel Arabic dial (restored) signed Robert with blued steel hands for hours, minutes, sweep seconds and alarm, the movement with circular plates and large gilt platform with flat blued hairspring to 45mm diameter seconds-beating brass balance, club-tooth lever escapement, the polished steel rack-work planted on the backplate, strike on two bells via four hammers, with three position selection lever in the base
9in. (23cm.)

Lot Essay

Examples of travel clocks with the signature Robert are recorded in both Charles Allix and Peter Bonnert Carriage Clocks, Antique Collectors' Club, 1974, p.26, fig.I/36 and Derek Roberts Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks, Schiffer 1993, p.20, fig.1-25. It is likely that the maker Robert was a member of the family associated with the Courvoisiers of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Several generations of the family were involved in the business through various associations. Josué-Robert with his son founded 'Robert Josué et fils'. In 1781 the firm became 'J. Robert et fils et Cie.' It was run by Captain Louis Robert and Louis Courvoisier. Robert's widow continued the firm from 1787 as 'J. Robert et fils, Courvoisier et Cie.'. In 1805 the name changed to 'Robert, Courvoisier et Cie.' and in 1811 to 'Courvoisier & Cie.' See Allix and Bonnert p.316.

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