L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 54

Gaudron à Paris, circa 1690. Fine small gilt bronze quarter-repeating bracket clock.

CHF 12,000 - 14,000

Sold: CHF 13,800

C. Rectangular, entirely gilt-metal clad over a wooden carcass, with moulded base on turned feet, glazed sides and hinged front door with acanthus leaf decoration on the border. Detachable gilt-metal pediment surmounted by an urn. D. Punch matted gilt bronze dial plate, the applied chased dial with Roman numerals on enamel cartouches and engraved outer Arabic minute ring the centre chased with scroll decoration. Blued steel "poker and beetle" hands. An applied enamel cartouche for the signature on a gilt bronze plate chased with foliage decoration below. M. Brass rectangular with turned pillars, going barrel, anchor escapement of Thiout's pattern, short pendulum with silk suspension adjustable through the dial. Pull wind quarterrepeating with side striking hammers, on three bells concealed beneath the pediment. Signed on the dial plate and the movement. In very good condition. Dim. 41 x 20 x 12 cm.


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Notes

This dock can be attributed to Antoine Gaudron ler. with certainty. Antoine Ier, born circa 1640, was received as master at Saint-Germain des Près between 1660 and 1665, and subsequently in Paris in 1675. He was appointed Juré in 1690, and took his sons into partnership in 1698 to trade in " Clocks, semi-precious stones, pictures, mirrors, porcelain, bronzes and jewels". His business was established at Place Dauphin a la Perle in 1698 and then a La Renome in 1709. Antoine Gaudron married Baignoux in 1671, and had three children - Pierre, Antoine II, and Marie-Anne. He died in 1714, a wealthy and much respected man, being highly spoken of by his peers including Julien Leroy. The escapement used is very similar to that illustrated by Thiout in his Traité de l'Horlogerie of 1741, vol. 1, pl 39. The anchor embraces only 3 teeth. A repeating system of very similar construction is also illustrated.