Pendule à Bille Constant Force Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1895-1905
This is a gilt brass constant force ball clock, which features an integrated perpetual calendar, thermometer, and barometer. Measuring 55 x 29 cm, the clock is designed with a movement utilizing 18 steel balls for the constant force mechanism.
The primary dial is set with decorative elements, while the perpetual movement is credited in the auction description to the work or inspiration of Mathieu Planchon (1842-1921), a watchmaker and horological historian who created modern copies of older designs. The mechanism draws conceptual inspiration from medieval water clocks. According to the auction description, this piece is one of six similar known models, with others historically located in diverse collections including the Peking horology museum and a specimen gifted to the British consulate in Tunis.
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 1895-1905
- Type
- Ball clock
- Maker
- Unsigned
- Model
- Pendule a Bille
- Material
- gilt brass
- Mechanism
- 18 steel balls
- Dimensions
- 55 x 29 cm
- Design Inspiration
- Medicis lions
Design
- Visible features
- • Gilt brass case with glass panels and a lion finial • Movement features an array of 18 steel spheres • Dial includes thermometer and barometer indicators • Perpetual calendar functionality incorporated into the clock
- Mechanism and Movement
- The movement is identified as an 8-day running perpetual movement utilizing a constant force system. The system relies on 18 steel balls to regulate the power delivery, a design described by the auction house as being inspired by medieval water clocks. The mechanism is intended to solve the challenge of maintaining regular power in a mechanical clock. The auction description links this design to the documentation of Mathieu Planchon, who studied and wrote about similar mechanisms in the context of the Paris Universal Exhibition. The complexity of the movement is designed to be visible within the glass-enclosed case, highlighting the movement of the steel spheres.
- Provenance and Attribution
- The object is unsigned, but the auction description connects the model to the horologist and historian Mathieu Planchon. Planchon was noted for creating modern copies of antique timekeeping devices and published extensive research on perpetual clocks and constant force mechanisms, specifically in relation to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900. The auction description notes the existence of six other similar models globally, including one conserved at the Peking horology museum and another historically gifted to the British consulate in Tunis. These comparisons suggest a limited production run for this specific type of ball-powered perpetual clock.
- Case and Exterior Construction
- The clock is housed in a gilt brass case featuring glass panels on the sides, providing visibility to the internal mechanism. The top of the case is surmounted by a brass sculpture of a lion holding a sphere, which the auction description associates with the Medicis lions found in Rome. The dial is fitted within the case and is surrounded by an ornamental border. Additional indicators for the barometer and thermometer are displayed on the dial, integrated alongside the timekeeping functions. The overall aesthetic emphasizes the gilt brass metalwork and the visibility of the ball-driven mechanism.
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: Attribution to Mathieu Planchon as designer or maker is speculative
- Research required: Exact date of manufacture is estimated as circa 1895-1905