French Miniature Oval Carriage Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900
This French miniature carriage clock is dated to circa 1900. It features a brass oval case with engraved ornamental floral and scroll motifs on the base, top, and handle.
The clock incorporates beveled glass panels, allowing visibility of the internal mechanism. The white porcelain dial displays black Roman numerals and minute markers, indicated by slender black hands. Mechanically, the timepiece is spring-driven and features a platform escapement with a fast/slow speed regulation lever, visible through the top glass. The rear of the case includes a framed glass panel for access to the winding and setting arbors.
The object is presented as a timepiece only, with no integrated alarm or strike functions mentioned. The auction description notes the clock's miniature proportions and construction characteristics, while emphasizing that maintenance history and the presence of a winding key are not specified.
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 1900
- Type
- Carriage clock
- Country
- France
- Material
- Brass
- Case shape
- Oval
- Escapement
- Platform
- Dial material
- Porcelain
- Movement type
- Spring driven
- Place recorded
- France
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is housed in an oval brass case, a construction that defines its miniature profile. The base and top surfaces, as well as the integrated carrying handle, are detailed with engraved floral and scroll ornamentation. The design incorporates multiple beveled glass panels, which provide viewing angles into the movement and the interior. The dial is composed of white porcelain, featuring black-painted Roman numerals and detailed minute indexing around the perimeter. Time is indicated by a pair of slender black hands. The overall composition aims for a compact, traditional aesthetic, with the porcelain dial set behind the primary viewing glass.
- Visible features
- • Engraved scrollwork on the brass case and handle • Platform escapement visible through top glass panel • White porcelain dial with Roman numerals • Beveled glass side panels
- Movement and Mechanics
- Technically, the clock operates as a simple timepiece driven by a spring-wound movement. It lacks secondary functions such as striking or alarm mechanisms. The regulation of the timekeeping is facilitated by a platform escapement located in the upper section of the movement, which is visible through the oval glass panel set into the top of the case. The mechanism includes an integrated fast/slow speed lever for rate adjustment. Access to the winding and time-setting arbors is provided through a hinged or removable framed glass panel located on the rear of the clock case.
- Condition and Attribution
- The object is attributed to French origin and is dated to approximately 1900. No specific manufacturer or workshop attribution is provided in the documentation. The auction description notes the lack of information regarding the clock's recent maintenance, current operational status, or the inclusion of an original winding key. The auction description reports that these elements should be evaluated to confirm physical and functional health.
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: Absence of identified maker's marks
- Research required: Status of original winding key and service history not verified