19th Century Eight Day Gilt Brass Carriage Clock with Alarm by Orange, Paris

A most unusual engraved gilt-brass French carriage clock by A. Orange, c. 1860.

Case

The attractive beautifully engraved gilt-brass clock of unusual shape has four shaped pillars on the corners and is surmounted by four torch finials and a shaped carrying handle. It has bevelled glass windows on three sides and the top so that the movement is almost entirely visible. The gilt brass platform escapement can be seen through a rectangular window in the top. The clock is surmounted by a typically shaped. At the back is an engraved door giving access to the winding arbors.

Movement

The high-quality spring-driven eight-day movement is constructed between plates. It consists of going and striking trains, as well as alarm. The going train has an English lever escapement with hairspring balance and regulation, all mounted on a gilt-brass platform. It can be adjusted by a regulator pin which can be seen through the window in the top and is accessible through the backdoor. The striking indicates the hour fully and the half hours with a single stroke on a bell. In addition, there is a repeat button on the front, with which the hour last struck can be repeated at will. The backplate is stamped A ORANGE A PARIS in a small line cartouche.

Dial

The white enamel dial has a Roman chapter ring with five-minute and minute divisions. The time is indicated by a pair of finely cut blued-steel trefoil hands. The dial is signed in very small capital letters as follows:

A. ORANGE A PARIS

Below is a subsidiary Arabic alarm dial with a small blued-steel hand, which can be set at the back.

The maker

Not much is known about this maker, which is surprising given the exceptional execution of this clock.

Dimensions: height 15.5cm (handle down); width 11cm; depth 9.5cm

Literature: Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, Paris, 1971, p.494.

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