Jean Romilly carriage clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1760
This object is a carriage clock, attributed to the French horologist Jean Romilly, dated to circa 1760. It features a circular brass case with a diameter of 10.5 cm and a height of 15.5 cm including the bow, with a recorded weight of approximately 700 grams.
The case is fitted with hinged covers on both sides. The white enamel dial displays black Roman numerals with a railway-style minute track and gold Breguet-style hands. The movement is a gilt full-plate mechanism with a spindle bridge, signed "Romilly á Paris". The auction description reports that the object may be a marriage, involving the combination of a genuine carriage clock case from the 18th century with a potentially unrelated movement.
The case exhibits features suggesting a repeating mechanism, such as a bore for a pull cord, though the presence of an active repeating function remains unverified by the source.
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 1760
- Type
- Carriage clock
- Maker
- Jean Romilly
- Height
- 15.5 cm
- Signed
- Romilly á Paris
- Weight
- 700g
- Diameter
- 10.5 cm
- Dial material
- Enamel
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Jean Romilly
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is housed in a substantial, circular brass case measuring 10.5 cm in diameter and 15.5 cm in height, including the crown. The construction includes hinged covers on both sides that allow for access to the internal components. The dial is composed of white enamel and is decorated with black Roman numerals and an external railway-style minute chapter ring. The time is indicated by two gold hands executed in the Breguet style. The auction description identifies the casing as a genuine 18th-century carriage clock component. Visible evidence of its original function includes a specific bore designed for the installation of a pull cord associated with a repeating mechanism, as well as a corresponding aperture in the case structure for the operation of the cord. The auctioneer describes the case condition as having minimal signs of age or wear.
- Visible features
- • Enamel dial with Roman numerals • Gold Breguet-style hands • Hinged case covers • Spindle bridge visible in description
- Movement and Signatures
- The movement is a gilt, full-plate assembly equipped with a spindle escapement, described as featuring a finely crafted spindle bridge. The plate bears the signature "Romilly á Paris". The auction house reports that the movement is operational, although the specific timing accuracy has not been tested or verified as part of their assessment. The presence of the signature and the construction of the spindle assembly are cited as key aspects of the object's attribution to the work of Jean Romilly.
- Provenance and Attribution
- The vendor identifies the object as an artifact attributed to Jean Romilly, who served as an horologist to the French royal household. The listing notes that original works by Romilly are represented in international collections including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Palace of Versailles. While the maker is highly regarded, the vendor suggests that the object presented is a potential marriage, referring to the assembly of a carriage clock case with a secondary movement. Historical context provided regarding the maker confirms Jean Romilly was born in Geneva in 1714 and established himself in Paris by 1734. He held the title of master horologist and contributed to the Encyclopédie. The vendor maintains that regardless of the marriage status of the movement, the casing remains a genuine example of 18th-century horological production.
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: Potential marriage of case and movement
- Research required: Unverified functionality of the repeating mechanism