Clocks · Lantern clock
Lantern clock by J. Deste, Paris, c. 1710
- Maker / attribution
- J. Deste (maker)
- Date
- c. 1710
- Historical period
- Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
- Country of origin
- France
- Place
- Paris
- Object type
- Lantern clock
- Materials / technique
- brass
- Dimensions
- Height 20.5 cm
- Stock no.
- SKU 547
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Howard Walwyn (SKU 547)
- Catalogue title (original)
- J. DESTE. A rare Louis XIV period miniature brass French lantern clock. (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Howard Walwyn Fine Antique Clocks (dealer), London (stock number SKU 547), this is a lantern clock by J. Deste, made in Paris, France, dated c. 1710. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Clocks collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: brass. Recorded dimensions: Height 20.5 cm. The record is illustrated with 2 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
J. DESTE à PARIS A rare Louis XIV period miniature brass French lantern clock in wonderfully pristine condition. The maker’s signature J. Deste à Paris is engraved to the dial centre below the central alarm disc. The delicate chapter ring has arrow head half-hour markers, inside quarters and boldly engraved Roman hour numerals. The Green Man or ‘foliate head’ mask highlighting the engraving with red wax at the top of the frets is distinctively French. The well-shaped steel hand is original as are the bell, the bell strap, the side doors and the alarm disc which is engraved with Arabic numerals. The original crown wheel escapement has a turned short brass bob which swings at the back of the case off a silk suspension. The steel hoop and spurs also appear to be original. Both the going and the alarm trains have ropes pulled by matching ring-turned lead weights. The original alarm work is mounted inside the steel back plate. Height : 8 in (20.5 cm) excluding finial Height : 9 ½ in (23.5 cm) including finial * This clock is in a remarkably untouched state both in the delicate wheel trains and steelwork of the movement and the beautiful patinated bronze colour of the dial, frets and case. References : Ton Bollen, Franse Lantaarn Klokken , pl.79 Brian Loomes, Lantern Clocks & Their Makers George White, English Lantern Clocks W.F.J. Hana, English Lantern Clocks , pp.47-48, pl.120,126,127 HWP
Historical context
Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)
Huygens' pendulum and balance spring transform accuracy; English makers develop the anchor and deadbeat escapements.
Huygens's pendulum (1656–57) improved clock accuracy from about a quarter of an hour to under a minute a day. The anchor escapement (c. 1670) and the long seconds pendulum created the longcase clock; London makers such as Fromanteel, Knibb, Tompion and Quare led European clockmaking, and French makers created the Boulle pendule.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Renaissance Horology
Atlas type guide
Lantern, chamber and Gothic clocks
Domestic weight-driven clocks were made in southern Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Flanders from the fifteenth century. These 'Gothic' or chamber clocks have an open iron frame with corner posts, a verge escapement controlled by a foliot or balance wheel, and often an alarm or hour striking on a bell mounted above.
In England the lantern clock appeared around 1600: a brass posted-frame clock with a bell on top under decorative frets, hung on a hook or set on a wall bracket. After about 1658 many were converted to pendulum control, so originality of the escapement is a key question for any surviving example.
What to look for
- Iron (continental) or brass (English) posted frames with turned corner pillars and finials.
- A single hour hand — minute hands are rare before the pendulum era.
- Evidence of conversion: plugged holes, replaced escapement wheels or later pendulums.
- Fret designs and engraving on the dial centre, which help date English lantern clocks.
Dating clues
- Continental Gothic chamber clocks: c. 1450–1650.
- English lantern clocks: c. 1600–1720, with provincial examples later.
- Short 'bob' pendulum conversions after 1658; long pendulums with anchor escapement after c. 1670.
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.
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