Lot Essay
The strike work on this clock has an additional feature typical of carriage clocks from the canton of Neuchâtel; during the day it strikes petite sonnerie and at night it automatically switches over to grande sonnerie.
Known as 'Fritz', Frédéric-Alexandre Courvoisier (1799-1854) was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Carabiniers as well as a participant in the family business. Having become involved in political disturbances he was briefly banished from Neuchâtel. Upon the death of his father he returned to the family firm in 1832, working with his brothers as 'Courvoisier et Cie.' In 1842 he left to set up business on his own. In the political turmoil of 1848 he became leader of the Neuchâtel revolution. See also footnote to lot 45 regarding the Courvoisier family.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
A similar clock, signed Courvoisier la Chaux-de-Fonds on the backplate is illustrated in Derek Roberts Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks, Schiffer 1993, pp.242-3, figs.15-41,a,b. Another, signed Frederic Courvoisier on the case and C.F.Klentschi No.645 on the movement is illustrated in Charles Allix and Peter Bonnert Carriage Clocks, Antique Collectors' Club 1974, p.311, figs.X/5 & 6.
Known as 'Fritz', Frédéric-Alexandre Courvoisier (1799-1854) was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Carabiniers as well as a participant in the family business. Having become involved in political disturbances he was briefly banished from Neuchâtel. Upon the death of his father he returned to the family firm in 1832, working with his brothers as 'Courvoisier et Cie.' In 1842 he left to set up business on his own. In the political turmoil of 1848 he became leader of the Neuchâtel revolution. See also footnote to lot 45 regarding the Courvoisier family.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
A similar clock, signed Courvoisier la Chaux-de-Fonds on the backplate is illustrated in Derek Roberts Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks, Schiffer 1993, pp.242-3, figs.15-41,a,b. Another, signed Frederic Courvoisier on the case and C.F.Klentschi No.645 on the movement is illustrated in Charles Allix and Peter Bonnert Carriage Clocks, Antique Collectors' Club 1974, p.311, figs.X/5 & 6.