Miniature Chinoiserie Carriage Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1890
This miniature carriage clock is a gilt brass timekeeper, attributed to French manufacture circa 1890, and carries the serial number 8147. It is designed with a "Bambu" gilt bronze frame.
The clock features four-sided porcelain panels, including the side walls and back door, all of which are decorated with Chinoiserie scenes set against an ivory-colored ground. The dial is also constructed from porcelain, maintaining decorative consistency with the case, and is fitted with blued steel spade hands. Measuring 78 x 54 x 45 mm, excluding the handle, the clock utilizes an eight-day going movement. This movement is housed in a brass rectangular frame equipped with a going barrel and a lateral lever escapement, visible through a glazed panel on the top of the case.
A matte silvered platform supports the balance, which is monometallic and features a flat balance spring and index regulator.
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 1890
- Type
- Carriage clock
- Maker
- French
- Movement
- Eight-day going barrel
- Dimensions
- 78 x 54 x 45 mm
- Escapement
- Lateral lever
- Serial number
- 8147
- Place recorded
- France
Design
- Visible features
- • Case features faux bamboo molded frame structure • Escapement visible through the top glazed aperture • Dial features radial Roman numerals and outer minute track • Blued steel spade hands match the dial design
- Case and Dial Design
- The clock is housed in a gilt bronze case styled with bamboo-like molding. This "Bambu" frame surrounds porcelain panels that serve as both side walls and the back door, while the dial itself is composed of porcelain. The surfaces are decorated with Chinoiserie-style scenes, which are rendered against an ivory-colored ground. The dial includes radial Roman numerals and minute divisions around the perimeter, complemented by blued steel spade hands. The top of the case incorporates a glazed viewing window, specifically positioned to allow a clear view of the clock's escapement mechanism. The overall aesthetic is unified through the application of the painted porcelain panels across the structure. The dimensions of the piece are recorded as 78 mm by 54 mm by 45 mm, excluding the height of the carrying handle.
- Movement and Escapement
- The timekeeping is powered by an eight-day movement with a going barrel. The mechanism is mounted within a rectangular brass frame. The escapement is a lateral lever type, situated on a matte silvered platform located at the top of the movement. The regulating components include a monometallic balance wheel paired with a flat balance spring. An index regulator is employed to adjust the timing.
- Condition and Identification
- The object is identified as French in origin with the number 8147, dating to approximately 1890. Specific evaluations for individual components indicate the case is in good condition, with the note that it has been slightly restored. The dial is also described as being in good condition with original hands. The movement is categorized as good, though as noted previously, the current report advises a professional overhaul to maintain its operation.
Identification
- Reference
- 8147
- Serial number
- 8147
- 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: Condition report notes the case is slightly restored
- Research required: Movement is listed as requiring an overhaul