Importantes Montres de Collection

Geneva, May 15, 2011

LOT 547

E. Maurice - Carriage Clock with Miniature Portraits E. Maurice & Co., French, No. 6702, retailed by R & W. Sorley, Paris, the miniatures after Richard Cosway (1742-1821). Made circa 1900. Very fine and extremely rare, hour and half-hour striking and repeating, 8-day going, gilt-brass carriage clock with inset hand-painted portrait miniatures of young ladies after the artist Richard Cosway, representing day and night.

CHF 8,000 - 14,000

USD 9,000 - 15,000 / EUR 6,000 - 11,000

Sold: CHF 12,500

C. Multi-piece, gilt-brass, cannelée, decorated edges, the engine-turned gilt-brass side panels set with fine glazed hand-painted portraits of young ladies against sky backgrounds, representing day and night, signed ?RC?, glazed aperture at the top to view the escapement, hinged reeded handle, hinged back door. D. White enamel with Arabic numerals, outer dot minute divisions with gold dot fiveminute divisions, red Arabic 15-minute numerals, the center with painted on enamel polychrome flower swags. Gilt-brass Louis XV hands. M. 10 x 7.5 cm., rectangular brass plates, going barrels for the going and striking trains, lateral lever escapement on a large silvered platform, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, striking and repeating on a gong. Dial signed by the retailer, movement signed E.M. & Co. Dim. 14.5 x 10 x 9 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

This very attractive and unusual carriage clock has hand-painted portrait miniatures set into the side panels. These are copied from works by the 18th century English artist Richard Cosway (1742-1821) and are perhaps an allegory representing day and night. The lady representing ?night? has been identified as Mrs Moffat, painted by Cosway in 1797. It is likely that this clock was made as a special order for a particular client. Literature: "Treasures to hold, Irish and English miniatures 1650-1850, from the National Gallery of Ireland collection", Paul Caffrey, p. 78, cat. 59.
E. Maurice & Co. A very fine maker working at 75, Rue Charlot, Paris. The company showed carriage clocks at the Paris Exhibition of 1889 and specialized in making carriage clocks with unusual cases.