A Directoire Clock, signed Verneuil Jeune à Paris

LITERATURE

Derek Roberts, "Continental and American Skeleton Clocks", 1989, p. 57, pl. 43, illustrating this clock.

A very fine quality Directoire/Empire gilt bronze mounted gilt brass and Belgian black marble clock, signed Verneuil Jeune à Paris,

Paris, date circa 1795-1805

This clock is interesting in that it is the only one of the series which is signed Verneuil Jeune à Paris and was thus probably made a little after the others. It has centre sweep seconds, minute, hour and 30 day date hands. The beautifully executed skeletonised wheel for the latter may be seen in the centre of the dial.

The large 9 rod gridiron pendulum is mounted at the front of the clock and embraces the cannon pinion. There is a cranked crutch with pinwheel escapement mounted on the backplate and outside countwheel strike on a bell.

Verneuil appears to have specialised in creating exceptional skeleton clocks of the highest mechanical and aesthetic quality. However surprisingly little is known of this Parisian maker; Tardy records a father and son of the same name, the elder based at 42 rue St Honoré and a younger, who sometimes signed his work Verneuil Jeune, who was based at rue du Contrat Social in 1806 and at Faubourg St-Martin in 1815. It is unclear exactly which was responsible for the present piece although it is more likely to be by the former. All works bearing Verneuil's name share a close stylistic resemblance. Of varying complexity, the majority include calendar work laid out in a similar manner. Some have silvered dials while others, such as the present example, have white enamel dials and the majority rest on marble plinths.