Bouchet, Horloger du Roy, Paris, circa 1780. Fine and very rare hour and quarter striking, moon phase astronomical, dead centre seconds skeleton clock with equation of time, full calendar, sun-rise and sun-set, special escapement with remontoire. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 15th October 1994

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994

LOT 85

Bouchet, Horloger du Roy, Paris, circa 1780. Fine and very rare hour and quarter striking, moon phase astronomical, dead centre seconds skeleton clock with equation of time, full calendar, sun-rise and sun-set, special escapement with remontoire.

CHF 100,000 - 120,000

Sold: CHF 113,500

C. GiIt bronze frame secured on a grey marbIe base set on four gilt brass turned feet. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute ring (slightly restored), subsidiary enamel dial for the years, the date, the signs of the Zodiac, the days of the week, apertures for the phase of the moon and sunrise/sun-set, revolving gilt brass chapter ring for the annual calendar. GiIt brass Louis XV hands. M. Large going barrel with 15 seconds remontoire, unusual pin-wheel single-beat escapement, grid-iron half second beating pendulum with spring suspension. Independent trains for hours and quarters with going barrels and locking plates. Equation of time with kidney cam mounted on the annual calendar arbor. Signed on the sun-rise/sunset dia-Iplate. In good condition. Dim. 40 x 23 x 15 cm.

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Jean-Louis Bouchet, Horloger du Roi, completed his masterpiece in 1762, settled rue Montmartre the same year, then rue Saint Denis from 1766. Appointed clockmaker to the king in 1769, he moved to rue Mélé in 1781, was rue Salle au Comte in 1789 and at least rue Saint Martin, the same year. Jean-Louis Bouchet was well known for his complicated docks, and as such was mentioned in Mémoires Secrets pour Servir à l'Histoire des Lettres, vol. XVIII, page 255, of 1782, in the entry for June the 16th: "Les amateurs de mécanique vont voir une pendule astronomique, tout à jours, exécutée par le Sieur Boucher (sic), Horloger du Roi. ... He also appears to be among the first clockmakers to produce skeleton clocks in France.