A SWISS ORMOLU GRANDE SONNERIE TRAVELLING CLOCK

ROBERT & COURVOISIER, NO. 1571. LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A SWISS ORMOLU GRANDE SONNERIE TRAVELLING CLOCK
robert & courvoisier, no. 1571. late 18th century
The dial with glazed ormolu rope-twist and egg-and-dart cast bezel, white enamel Arabic annular chapter ring with blued steel hands, foliate engraved ormolu center, the movement of typical layout with circular plates, verge escapement with bridge-cocked balance wheel with flat blued hairspring mounted on the backplate, pull-wind alarm with the pully similarly mounted on the backplate, full grande sonnerie strike/trip repeat on two bells with three-position selection lever in the base, the polished steel and brass rack-work similarly planted on the backplate numbered 1571, the foliate-cast case with arched scroll pediment surmounted by a serpentine handle, the sides cast with a central lyre amongst foliage, the foliate-cast molded base on bun feet
8¾in. (22cm.) high

Lot Essay

The Courvoisier family are one of the oldest associated with the clock making industry at La Chaux-de-Fonds and played an extremely influential role in the early history of Swiss carriage clocks. Several generations of the family were involved in the business through various associations. Josué-Robert with his son Louis 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. See Charles Allix op. cit., p.316. Allix also illustrates a clock of related design and signed Robert, p.26, plate I/36.