Gorge Cased Clock
A gorge cased clock offers brass framing and bevelled glass panels that reveal complex French horology.
Gorge Cased Clock
A gorge cased clock sits within a heavy stepped brass frame that houses an eight-day movement and bevelled glass windows. These portable timepieces emerge predominantly from nineteenth-century French workshops, often built as carriage or mantel clocks.
The profile relies on stepped mouldings at the top and base of the case, framing panels that expose the escapement and gear train to view. Most pieces belong to the nineteenth century, spanning decades from the eighteen-fifties through to the eighteen-nineties.
Makers housed these movements in robust brass housings designed for travel or domestic placement. Examples range from simple timepieces to complex models with striking, repeating, alarm and sonnerie functions.
How They Were Made
Craftsmen built these housings from cast brass or gilt bronze, finishing surfaces with gilding or polish. Bevelled glass panes fitted tightly into the stepped frame to protect the delicate mechanism within.
Pivoting handles attached to the top allowed owners to carry the clock between rooms or on journeys. Movements required precise hand-cutting of brass wheels and steel pinions, set behind enamelled dials marked with Roman numerals.
One listed clock carries a specific racehorse interest from eighteen ninety-four.
What Varies in Quality
Quality rests in the complexity of the internal mechanism and the crispness of the exterior case casting. Simple timepieces sit at one end of the scale, while grand sonnerie and repeating movements with alarm work occupy the upper tier.
Engraving on the brass framework and signature marks from notable makers separate standard production items from masterworks. The presence of original fitted wooden boxes and matching keys further elevates a piece.
Drocourt Paris·Samuel Marti·Dwerrihouse And Bell·Henri Jacot·Joseph Soldano·Elkington London·Payne And Co
The Gorge Cased Clock Glossary
- Gorge case
- A heavy brass carriage clock housing with stepped mouldings at the top and bottom. This distinctive frame provides structural rigidity while maximising glass viewing areas.
- Sonnerie
- A striking mechanism that sounds the hours and quarters automatically. Petit sonnerie strikes the quarters on the pass, while grande sonnerie strikes both hours and quarters.
- Repeater
- A complication that repeats the last hour and quarters when a button on the case is pressed. This allowed time checks in the dark.
- Escapement
- The internal mechanism that controls the release of power to maintain the motion of the clock. Platform escapements replaced pendulums in portable designs.
- Cannelee
- A case style featuring fluted pillars at the corners rather than plain chamfers. This fluting adds architectural detail to the brass framework.
Gorge Cased Clock: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wind a gorge cased clock?
Use the appropriate key on the winding arbors located on the back plate. Turn steadily until resistance indicates the mainspring is fully tensioned.
Avoid overwinding, as this places undue strain on the brass springs and gear train within the movement.
Why does the clock have a repeating function?
The repeating lever allows the mechanism to sound the current time on demand. Owners pressed this button to hear the hours and quarters during the night.
This feature removed the need to strike matches or light candles to check the hour.
Where should I place a carriage clock?
Position the piece on a stable, level surface away from direct sunlight and draughts. Mantelpieces and sturdy desks provide suitable environments for daily operation.
A level surface ensures the platform escapement beats evenly and keeps accurate time.
How do I identify the maker?
Makers typically stamped their trademarks and serial numbers onto the back plate of the movement. Look for stamped initials or full names hidden behind the dial or case back.
Matching numbers on the movement and case components often confirm original assembly.