JANVIER FILS CHEZ M. DEVANNE 1768: A Louis XVI ormolu mounted mahogany regulateur de table with glazed foliate cast bezel to the white enamel Roman dial signed Janvier Fils Paris with blued moon hands and concentric outer calendar ring, the twin going barrel movement with four vase-shaped pillars, re-built anchor escapement with original pendulum with calibrated fine adjustment scale, quarter striking on two bells via rack-and-snail work planted on the backplate signed Janvier chez Mr.Devanne 1768, the case plinth set with an ormolu relief of playing putti, the two sphinx flanking the glazed rectangular aperture for the silvered engraved temperature scale with blued steel pointer, the back with sliding door panel; movement dated 1768, the case circa 1800

Details

JANVIER FILS CHEZ M. DEVANNE 1768: A Louis XVI ormolu mounted mahogany regulateur de table with glazed foliate cast bezel to the white enamel Roman dial signed Janvier Fils Paris with blued moon hands and concentric outer calendar ring, the twin going barrel movement with four vase-shaped pillars, re-built anchor escapement with original pendulum with calibrated fine adjustment scale, quarter striking on two bells via rack-and-snail work planted on the backplate signed Janvier chez Mr.Devanne 1768, the case plinth set with an ormolu relief of playing putti, the two sphinx flanking the glazed rectangular aperture for the silvered engraved temperature scale with blued steel pointer, the back with sliding door panel; movement dated 1768, the case circa 1800
16½in. (42cm.) high

Lot Essay

Antide Janvier, 1751-1835, was unquestionably one of France's greatest clockmakers, his achievements rank along side those of Berthoud and Breguet. Considering that Janvier had made an astronomical masterpiece by the age of thirteen it is perhaps not so surprising to find a very early and highly competent example that he made at the age of seventeen. It is well known that he spent his formative years in the Abb©e Tournier however no reference can be found of a M. Devanne, but presumably he was the clockmaker with whom he later studied with before going on to Paris in 1771.

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