Belgian Louis XV Musical Tall Case Clock by Paul Conrard
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1740
According to the source, this Belgian tall case clock in the Louis XV style dates to circa 1740. It is housed in a carved oak case with an arched hood, sculpted trunk door, and bombé plinth base.
The brass dial is fitted with an engraved pewter chapter ring, subsidiary seconds, calendar aperture, and an engraved hunting scene at the center, with a signature boss in the arch reading 'Paul Conrard A Leige'. The source reports an eight-day, three-train weight-driven movement featuring a pinned musical cylinder operating twenty-seven hammers on nine bells, followed by Dutch striking on two bells.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Circa 1740
- Type
- Musical tall case clock
- Dimensions
- 96″ H x 28-1/2″ W x 16″ D (120″ H with topper)
- Case Material
- Oak
- Striking Type
- Dutch striking on two bells
- Movement Train
- 8-Day 3-Train Weight-Driven Musical Movement
- Place recorded
- Belgium
- Maker Signature
- Paul Conrard A Leige
- Musical Mechanism
- Pinned cylinder on 9 bells with 27 hammers
- Maker / attribution
- Paul Conrard
Design
- Visible features
- • Carved oak tall case clock with an arched pediment hood, long trunk door, and flared bombé plinth base on small feet. • Trunk door is carved with Rococo scrollwork and features a small central circular aperture framed by relief carving. • Arched dial includes ornate corner spandrels, a circular chapter ring with Roman hours and Arabic minutes, and a roundel boss in the arch.
- Case Construction and Aesthetic
- The clock is housed in an oak tall case described as featuring the aesthetic characteristics of the Louis XV period. The design includes an arched hood, a long door, and a bombé base. The case features carved decorative elements including acanthus leaves on the arch above the dial, and relief carvings of vines, shells, and scrollwork on the door and base.
- Dial Composition and Decoration
- The brass dial face incorporates a pewter chapter ring featuring Roman numerals and Arabic minute markers. It includes a subsidiary seconds dial and a calendar aperture. The center of the dial features a relief engraving of a nobleman hunting a stag. The arch contains an engraved roundel signed 'Paul Conrard A Leige', with the dial corners set with hand-chased spandrels.
- Mechanism and Operational Details
- The source identifies the clock as having an eight-day, three-train weight-driven movement. It utilizes a pinned cylinder to actuate twenty-seven hammers against nine bells to produce music at half-hour intervals. Following the musical sequence, the clock performs Dutch striking on two distinct bells.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The three-train movement, pinned cylinder, bells, hammers, and weights are enclosed and cannot be verified from the exterior photograph.
- Research required: The source notes an original figural topper, which is absent from this photograph.