Offered by Sérignan Antiquités
Small « œil de bœuf » complication cartel with a chased bronze and matt and burnished gilt bronze alarm mechanism from the Louis XVI period.
Its circular case in chased and gilded mercury bronze features elaborate decoration in two distinct parts. The upper part features attributes symbolizing love, such as arrows, quivers and torches, as well as a pair of doves, all topped by a wide knotted ribbon symbolizing the couple's union. The lower part is composed of two branches joined at the base, one olive tree, symbolizing love and peace, and the other oak, symbolizing strength and longevity. A scratchboard frieze combines the two parts into one. The bezel is crossed by a pearl stripe and opened by a pull knob on the right-hand side.
The dial is in very soft white enamel, with finely painted black hours in elongated Roman numerals and minutes in Arabic numerals. The dial is fitted with three hands, two finely openworked with gilded copper fleur-de-lis for the hours and minutes, and a steel serpentine for the alarm function.
Original silk-thread suspension movement; complication with two-stone, four-hammer striking mechanisms for striking the hours and ¼ by repeating the quarters for the alarm and striking the hours on demand. Devoted to being placed in the bedroom alcove, just above the bed, within easy reach; rang only on demand. This mechanism enabled the insomniac sleeper to find out the time of night by pulling one of the cords; the other was dedicated to the alarm clock. The name used to describe this “cartel d'alcôve en oeil de bœuf” is typical of the Louis XVI period, when it was very much in vogue; it recalls the shape of an ox eye.
An identical cartel appears on page 148 of Tardy's book “La pendule française 2me partie : Du Louis XVI à nos jours”.
Dimensions: height 22cm
Perfect working order. A certificate of service from our watchmaker will be given to you with the appraisal.
Terms and conditions of delivery:
The price indicated on the advert includes delivery within mainland France.
For Germany, Belgium, Italy or Spain, please contact us for a quote.
For the United States, non-EU Europe or the rest of the world, please contact us for a quote, but any import taxes applicable in each country will be charged to you.
Packaging and transport are handled by us or by professional carriers specialized in works of art.
A certificate of appraisal will be provided on delivery.
Delevery information :
General conditions of sale and delivery: The price indicated on the ad includes the delivery throughout the metropolitan France. For Germany, Belgium, Italy or Spain contact us for a quote. For the United States, Europe outside the EU or the rest of the world contact us for a quote but the import taxes applicable in each country remain at your expense. The packing and the follow-up of the transport are insured by ourselves or by professional carriers specialized in works of art.
