The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 499

Darlot à Paris, circa 1794, the enamels attributable to the Coteau workshop.Very fine white marble, gilt bronze and enamel, eight day going, hour and half hour striking, moon phase, astronomical, skeleton, decimal and duo-decimal clock with centre seconds and complete Republican calendar.

CHF 120,000 - 140,000

C. Rectangular white marble base standing on four engine-turned feet, the front face inlaid with a gilt bronze frieze depicting cherubs playing on clouds. The movement is supported by a semi-circular arched frame applied with a blue enamel panel decorated with gold stars and suns and standing on four pilasters with further paillonné decoration over a blue enamel ground. D. White enamel chapter ring with Arabic numerals, outer calendar ring and inner days of the decade. Subsidiary phase of the mon at the top. Gilt brass pierced and engraved interlaced hands. Small subsidiary dial under the arch for decimal hours and minutes, Republican and Gregorian months.M. Brass, circular, with going barrels both for the going and the striking trains, pin-wheel escapement set on the back plate, plain gilt brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring. Striking on a bell with count wheel on the back plate.Signed on a cartouche above the dial.Dim. 48 x 29 x 13 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 3
Dial: 3 - 11 - 01

Notes

Decimal clocks, with full Republican calendar are very rare, because, if the Republican calendar had been in use for14 years, from September 22, 1792 to September 22, 1806, the Decimal time, established on September 22, 1792, as well, was abolished only three years later.Darlot was Clockmaker in Paris, circa 1795. Another Decimal clock made by him is now in the collection of the Carnavalet Museum in Paris.