Important Watches, Pocket Watches and...

Noga Hilton Hotel, Nov 13, 2005

LOT 93

?Detached Visible Balance? Raingo Freres A Paris, also signed Savory et Fils A Paris, No. 946. Made circa 1860. Very fine and very rare, Renaissance style gilt bronze eight-day going, half-hour striking mantel clock with deadseconds and deadbeat escapement with detached visible balance.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 26,000 / USD 23,000 - 30,000

C. Matted and burnished gilt bronze in the Renaissance style, seated winged putto above two foliate scrolls, the balance mounted between, double cornice supported by four twisted columns, the front columns flanked by seated winged putti, one holding a book of music, the other holding a mandolin, stepped base, the whole cast with leaves, scrolls and portrait roundels. D. Square white enamel, eccentric chapter ring, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, concentric subsidiary seconds at 12. Blued steel ?moon? hands. M. 112 x 112 mm., gilt brass plates with canted corners, four polished steel cylindrical pillars secured by screws, spring barrels for the striking and going trains, brass deadbeat escapement with micrometric adjustment screw, steel pallets, the escapement pinion mounted with a vertical steel rod passing through the top of the case and terminating in a fork and impulse pin, detached monometallic three-arm balance with peripheral steel adjustment screws, steel roller with locking pin, steel helical balance spring, countwheel striking on a bell. Dial and movement signed, movement and case numbered 946. Dim. 52.5 x 24.5 x 14 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-14-25-01

Good

Damaged

Chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

This very interesting clock is an unusual combination of both precision and decoration. The case is in the French neo-Renaissance style that became popular in architecture from around 1860. The movement itself is of typical French construction except for the use of the deadbeat escapement and of course the detached large balance wheel which is mounted on top of the case creating a visual delight. The movement is obviously meant to be admired as it also has large polished steel pillars. It is possible that this clock was made for exhibition purposes and may have been shown at the 1862 London Universal Exhibition. The backplate is signed by both Raingo Freres and Savory et Fils. The relationship between the two is unclear but examples of Raingo clocks are sometimes found with movements signed by both Raingo and Pons, showing that Raingo did on occasion use and finish the movements made by other firms. The basic movement of this clock could have been made by Savory and then the escapement and balance fitted by Raingo specially for this clock. Zacharie-Nicholas-Aimé-Joseph Raingo He was born in Mons, Belgium, around 1780. In 1806 he moved to Tournai, and approximately four years later to Ghent. Shortly afterwards he left Belgium for Paris, where he quickly built an impressive career, settling in the rue de Cléry. Along with his famous orrery clocks he was one of the first to make picture clocks. These were paintings usually with a landscape and a castle or a church, which were fitted with a clock carillon movement striking the hours and quarters. Some were fitted with what he called "lointain"- a device that simulated the effect of music coming from far away. According to the "Bazar parisien" by Charles Malo, (Paris, 1824) they cost 400 francs and with "lointain" 600 francs. In 1823 the Duc de Chartres appointed him his "Horloger Mécanicien", and in 1824 he became "Horloger Mécanicien du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne". In 1823 he published a "Description d'une pendule à sphère mouvante". Around 1826 to 1828, Raingo went into partnership with one (or more) of his brothers, and the company took the name of Raingo Frères. In 1829 they were in the rue Vieille du Temple and between 1840-1850 in the rue de Saintonge. On May 9, 1829 they took out a patent for special striking, special cases, a new pendulum suspension, and a new escapement. In 1862 they took part in the London Universal Exhibition.