Description

This magnificent inlaid clock is 17" high, 11 1/4" wide, and 7 7/8" deep, with a perfect 7 1/2" convex porcelain dial. The clock is 100% original and in pristine condition. This was French made for the English market. However this clock was originally sold in the US by J. E. Caldwell and Co. Philadelphia as signed on the dial. The case is mahogany with inlays of satinwood, ebony, and walnut. There are no repairs to the inlay, the finish is also original and very strong. The wood surface has been cleaned and waxed, nothing more. There is a very minor repair to the top left front edge, a tight shrinkage crack above the 12 o'clock and one on the left rear. They don't even show up in the photos, they are not significant however, I do feel that they should be mentioned. Both brass ringed lion heads, brass pineapple finial, heavy cast bezel, convex beveled crystal, and brass bun feet are all original. All brass parts are polished and sealed. There are a total of three fretwork panels, one on either side and on the back door. The silk backing has been replaced on all three. The large fretwork on the rear door has a 1/2" piece missing on the top left (REFER TO PHOTO). The clock mechanism is very unusual, to start with it is of a two week duration with an hour and half hour cathedral chime. The clock runs for two weeks but the accuracy starts dropping off after 9 days, about a minute or two a day. The sound that resonates from the case is deep and rich. The striking portion is a self-synchronizing double-snail without the assistance of a rack. It utilizes the No. 2 wheel arbor rotation to determine the hour it counts. The spring barrels are drop barrels. Remove the winding arbors and the barrels remove easily. A very good idea however, usually only found on clocks made 50 to 70 years later. The escapement is self-adjusting between the plate, Brocot. The French square plate design is well executed with great wheel work. Marked above both winding arbors is BREVETT S.D.G.D. The back plate is marked France with a trademark which does not appear in either of the two trademark reference books. It is additionally marked with the serial number 4259 and 6-9 pendulum length. The pendulum serial number is 4258. I think that we can safely say that this is the original pendulum. The trademark is a French fleur-de-lis with a banner and the word France in it, which is encased in a circle. Around the circle it reads sonnerrie progress B. S.G.D.G. On the fleur-de-lis are the letters O on the left and C on the right. Rarely do I come across a quality precision clock that I can not identify the maker. These clocks were made by exceptional clock makers who made very few clocks. This clock has all of the classic Regency refinements. Note the gadroon top which was a variation of the chamfer top between 1825 and 1850. If you have the book Georgian Bracket Clocks 1714-1830 by Brader refer to page 202.

Record courtesy of Drury House Antiques in Weston Vermont