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Clocks · Carriage clock

French carriage clock, c. 1880

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
c. 1880
Historical period
Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
Country of origin
France
Object type
Carriage clock
Materials / technique
porcelain
Dimensions
Height 14.5 cm
Dealer
Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London
Stock no.
SKU 40
Credit line
Dealer listing, Howard Walwyn (SKU 40)
Catalogue title (original)
A FINE ‘SEVRES’ PORCELAIN PANELLED CARRIAGE CLOCK (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London (stock number SKU 40), this is a carriage clock, made in France, dated c. 1880. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Clocks collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: porcelain. Recorded dimensions: Height 14.5 cm. The record is illustrated with 3 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

A fine ‘Sèvres’ porcelain panelled French carriage clock, the 8-day movement numbered 252 with hour strike and passing half-hour strike on a gong with repeat facility. There is also an alarm train. The gilt-brass accentuated gorge case is mounted with ‘bleu céleste’ ‘Sèvres’ porcelain panels depicting lovers in a romantic rural setting on each side panel. The dial depicts a figure of Cupid in the centre section within the Roman chapter ring and below there is a central alarm dial which is flanked by a courting couple. Each panel is enhanced with a gilt tracery frame and applied ‘seed pearl’ decoration. The original moon-shaped hands are gilded. The high quality brass plated movement has a silvered platform with uncut balance, timing screws and ruby endstone. Height: 5 ¾ in (14.5 cm) with handle down Width: 3 ¾ in (9.5 cm) Depth: 3 ½ in (9 cm) * HW5418

Historical context

Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)

American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.

Factory production transformed the clock into an everyday object. American makers (Seth Thomas, Ansonia, Waterbury) and German factories (Junghans, Gustav Becker, Lenzkirch) sold millions of shelf, wall and alarm clocks worldwide; France produced standardised Paris movements and carriage clocks; electric time distribution began.

Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology

Atlas type guide

Carriage and travel clocks

The carriage clock is a portable spring clock with a balance-wheel escapement and a brass case with glass panels and a carrying handle. Abraham-Louis Breguet made early examples around 1800, and from the 1830s Paul Garnier and other French makers industrialised production, with the small towns of Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont and the Franche-Comté supplying movements for retailers worldwide.

Typical features include a platform escapement mounted horizontally on top of the movement (usually a lever, sometimes cylinder or Garnier's chaff-cutter), striking or repeating work, and alarms. English carriage clocks, generally larger and with fusees, were made by firms such as Frodsham and Dent. Travel clocks in folding leather cases became popular in the twentieth century.

What to look for

  • A platform escapement visible through the top glass.
  • Case styles: corniche, gorge, anglaise, obis or engraved cases.
  • Repeat buttons on top and strike/silent levers.
  • Stamps of movement makers (e.g. Drocourt, Jacot, Margaine, Richard & Co.) on the backplate.

Dating clues

  • Early carriage clocks with Breguet or Garnier features: c. 1800–1850.
  • Mass-produced French carriage clocks: c. 1850–1914.
  • Folding travel clocks and alarm travel clocks: mostly 1920–1970.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Detached lever escapement

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