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FRENCH CLOCKS : A WELL TICKING MARKET
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Still, a majority of clocks do not reach such high prices as the world of collectors is divided between those specialists who are much interested in the various techniques in clock-making and collectors such as François Pinault and Hubert de Givenchy who are mainly attracted by the decorative aspects of clocks and pay above all attention to the case, bronze fittings and high quality finish of a time-piece.
«A rare enamelled skeleton clock
with daily and monthly calendar, circa 1794,
French (Value : US $ 80,000-100,000)»
«An exceptional and rare white marble
clock with gilt bronze figures of Minerva
presenting King Louis XV to King Henri IV,
by Du Luc, clock-maker to the Count of Artois,
brother of King Louis XVI (Value : US $ 90,000-120,000)»
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Clocks, which progressively replaced sundials in the 16th Century, became increasingly essential in the life of humans from then on. Today, these are much sought by collectors.
Men have always had a ferocious appetite for measuring time. During many centuries they relied on the movement of the sun with sundials or that of stars with astrolabes or simply on water clocks or hourglasses.
At the end of the Middle Age period, clocks were generally installed in the towers of churches and those of town-houses in order to regulate city life while only a few people had the privilege of having time pieces in their homes.
Today the world lives with electronic or even nuclear clocks adjusted to the precision of 1/100th or even 1/1000th of a second so as to cling to the speed of various activities. New technologies have naturally been counterbalanced by some kind of nostalgia regarding less precise ancient clocks that were synonymous with an easygoing life whereby being five or ten minutes late for an appointment did not really matter. Now, many people have been showing a keen interest in hand-made instruments that are pure marvels among human creations.
First of all, let us start with French clocks, which are much in demand on the market. These can be usually found in many auction rooms around the world despite the fact that many good pieces have already been sold during the past three decades.
A majority of customers are Belgians, British, Dutch, Germans, Italians as well as Americans while prices have been skyrocketing during the past ten years. As an example, an 18th Century clock-organ called the «Monkeys' concert» sold for 3 541 000 FF (US $ 575,000) at Drouot, Paris, on June 26th 1996 (pre-empted by the Petit Palais Museum). On December 14th 1996, a Louis XVI clock with a bust of Minerva, went for 3 540 500 FF (US $ 574,900) at Sotheby's in Monaco. On June 18th 1997, a Régence Boulle marquetry clock reached 3 103 912 FF (US $ 503,850) at Drouot while another Boulle clock of the late 17th Century decorated with a statue of Venus wearing a garland of flowers, her feet resting on a shell with Eros at her side, culminated at 5 895 000 FF (US $ 956,980) at Christie's, New York, on October 21st 1997.
Still, a majority of clocks do not reach such high prices as the world of collectors is divided between those specialists who are much interested in the various techniques in clock-making and collectors such as François Pinault and Hubert de Givenchy who are mainly attracted by the decorative aspects of clocks and pay above all attention to the case, bronze fittings and high quality finish of a time-piece.
«A rare enamelled skeleton clock
with daily and monthly calendar, circa 1794,
French (Value : US $ 80,000-100,000)»
«An exceptional and rare white marble
clock with gilt bronze figures of Minerva
presenting King Louis XV to King Henri IV,
by Du Luc, clock-maker to the Count of Artois,
brother of King Louis XVI (Value : US $ 90,000-120,000)»
There are several categories of clocks : The dial-case clock called Cartel in French which is fixed to a wall.
The skeleton clock the mechanism of which is visible, the Louis XIV clock called «Pendule Religieuse» in French or bracket clock with a sober design but with cases made of rare types of wood, sometimes inlaid with copper or ivory as well as regulators, which are very precise clocks with short of long cases.
There are also mantle piece clocks, table clocks and also lantern clocks of the 16th and 17th centuries topped with a bell.
«A rare gilt bronze cartel,
Louis XVI period,
dial by Bugnon
(Value : US $ 50,000-70,000)» |
«A magnificent gilt bronze clock
by Viger, case by Saint-Germain,
circa 1745-1750
(Value : US $ 30,000-35,000)» |
Classical clocks with bronze or wood cases are relatively cheap on the market (Between US $ 800 and 3,000) while Cartel clocks of the 1730-1760 period are in general worth between US $ 3,000 and 30,000.
Collectors are looking for working pieces somewhat easy to repair. However it is not advised to buy a clock fitted with a later movement, a bad idea which developed during the mid 19th Century when people wanted to possess more precise time pieces and were responsible for some major disasters when they had 16th Century table clocks dismembered and fitted with new movements committing therefore some unforgivable heresy.
«An imposing early 17th Century gilt metal clock
case now containing a 19th Century English
fusee and chain, bell striking movement with
anchor escapement, later chapter ring
with roman numerals and inner circle
with signs of the Zodiac, later silver centre
with enamel decoration (Value : US $ 15,000-25,000)»
During the 17th,18th and 19th French clock-makers produced some incredible quantities of clocks, which by all means were magnificent works of art. During the 18th Century they went on to adapt their pieces to daily reality with decorative features recalling new fashions and conquests with bronze figures of Indians, black men, slaves, sailors, gods and goddesses, angels and so forth.
«A good ormolu mounted
bronze pendule 'Au Nègre',
circa 1805
(Value US $ 14,000-20,000)»
After 1825, clock-makers produced pieces which reflected the romantic period some with lovers, naked ladies or others looking like mini-cathedrals as well as mysterious clocks with concealed movements. Most of them relied on the co-operation of case makers, enamellists, founders and chiselling specialists.
Robert Robin was Queen Marie Antoinette's favourite clock-maker. Born in 1742, he invented new mechanisms and provided the King with some extraordinary timepieces. After the Revolution he designed an astronomical repeating decimal clock for the National Convention.
Antide Janvier was also a famous inventor. Born into a family of clock-makers (his ancestor Charles started his career in Blois in 1621), Antide, born in 1751, produced at 13 a moving celestial sphere which was presented to the Academy of Besançon. After coming to Paris in 1771, he made several astronomical clocks, which are now much sought by collectors.
«A Directoire mahogany and ebonised
month-going longcase regulator
by A. Janvier (Value US $ 35,000-50,000)»
Jean-Baptiste Albert Baillon, born in 1727, was clock-maker to Queen Marie Leszczynska and produced some good decorative pieces including his famous clock with an elephant.
Ferdinand Berthou, born in Switzerland in 1727, came to Paris in 1747 and produced clocks with cases often made by Gouthières. Another well known manufacturer was Abraham-Louis Bréguet, also born in Switzerland in 1747 who invented clocks with compensating spirals or with stunningly modernistic mechanisms such as a perpetual movement or minute repeating, lunar phases and free escapement pieces. The Bréguet firm is still in activity today and remains much famous for its very high quality watches.
«A Large Empire ormolu mounted mahogany
clock and pedestal, signed on the dial Bréguet
in co-operation with the enameller Dubuisson,
the case by Denière, circa 1810
(Value : US $ 100,000-130,000)»
Salomon Chesnon, born in Blois in 1572, produced a repeating clock for Queen Marie de Medicis in 1618. His pieces are nowadays quite rare.
Julien Coudray, born in Blois in 1498, was clock-maker to the King. He produced in 1525 an astronomical clock for the cathedral of Tours that indicated the hours, the days of the week, the months, lunar phases, festivals, the name of each day of the week and other special features such as a procession of small figures which were coming out from a door and entering through another as well as a striking device by which two angels would strike the hours alternatively.
Nicolas Gribelin, born in Blois in 1637, produced clocks for the French court including a piece which indicated the hours, the minutes, the degrees of the sun and of the moon, with a dial for the day and another for the night as well as another rare striking clock.
Jean-André Lepaute, born in 1720, invented in 1751 a clock the mechanism of which consisted in one single wheel. A year later he invented a piece, which indicated the hours, the minutes and the seconds, striking every hour and every quarter. Some of his most famous clocks were the Uranie piece with sculptures after Houdon, the Clio piece, the mixed Uranie and Clio clock, Time and Astronomy as well as Mars and Eros. His son Jean Baptiste, his nephew Pierre-Henry and cousin Pierre-Basile were also renowned clock makers.
«A superb Empire ormolu
astronomical clock
with equation of time, by Lepaute,
circa 1808 (Value : US $ 120,000-150,000)» |
«A fine bronze ormolu
and red marble
mantel clock,
French, circa 1815
(Value : US $ 9,000-11,000)» |
Jean-Antoine Lépine, born in 1720, was also a clock- maker to the King, and produced a clock decorated with the head of a Negro girl, now in the collection of the Queen in London.
«An important Louis XVI ormolu mounted
mahogany regulator with equation of time
by J. A Lépine and Claude-Pierre Raguet (1753-1810),
his son-in-law. Value : US $ 200,000-250,000)»
Another famous maker was Julien Leroy, born in 1686 into a family of clock-makers whose ancestor Jacquemart was already producing clocks in 1404. He also designed many inventive models.
Gilles Martinot, born in 1622, produced elaborate clocks for the French court. His son Henri made a piece in the shape of a celestial globe, which indicated the movements of the sun, and of the moon as well as an 8-day repeating clock. Jérome Gaulard, also of the Martinot family, who worked during the second half of the 17th Century, also produced some interesting timepieces, including an impressive clock indicating sunrise and sunset, the days of the month and world time dial with moving celestial spheres for which he received 500 gold coins from the King in 1701.
Another great maker of the Martinot dynasty was Balthazar the Elder, born in 1636, who worked for the Queen and produced repeating clocks.
One of the first known makers was Pierre Merlin, who worked for the King of France in 1372. One of his clocks worked during 400 years until the church tower in which it was installed was destroyed in 1813.
In 1689, Louis XIV's son, heir to the throne of France, possessed ten clocks including one gilt silver piece inlaid with diamonds and rubies. In 1787, King Louis 16th had 161 clocks while his wife Marie-Antoinette possessed 45 pieces.
There were many dynasties of famous clock-makers between the 16th and 19th centuries such as Martinot, Gribelin, L'Allemand and Thuret during the reign of Louis 14th, Julien Le Roy, Caron, Filleul, Ageron, Juhel, Bailleul and Caranda during the reign of Louis XV, Janvier, Robin, Lépine, Roque, Lepaute, Montjoye, Manière, Berthoud, Charles Le Roy, Godon, Sotiau under that of Louis 16th while Bréguet pursued his achievements under that of Napoleon the First.
«A Mahogany and ormolu-mounted
month-going solar striking longcase
regulator with equation and full calendar by Jean-André Lepaute, Paris
(Value : US $ 70,000- 100,000)»
Such signatures are much in demand by collectors who are looking for pieces with working mechanisms, original gilding, good chiselling and also some prestigious provenance.
A good 19th Century clock (of the reigns of Louis-Philippe or Napoleon 3rd) can be found at US $ 900. It might be in a wood or marble case. Clocks from the 18th Century or from the 1800-1820 period are much more expensive (between US $ 3,000 and 5,000 for average quality pieces).
Prices for clocks from the beginning of the 18th Century range between US $ 4,000 and 10,000 while Louis XIV cartels are worth between US $ 7,000 and 20,000. 18th Century models decorated with elephants, exotic subjects or satyrs are found between US $ 15,000 and 50,000 while bronze Rococo Louis XV models and 18th Century skeleton clocks are somewhat rare (between US $ 20,000 and 75,000).
«A very important striking gilt bronze
and tortoiseshell cartel clock
with its base by Viger,
Louis XV period (Value : US $ 50,000-70,000)» |
«An important Charles X highly complicated long duration
astronomical striking skeleton
clock with equation of time
by Jean-François Henri Motel (1786-1859)
who was a pupil of Louis Berthoud.
Motel only made a few clocks.
(Value US $ 70,000-100,000)» |
«An important early Louis XVI
ormolu and verdi antico marble astronomical
skeleton timepiece by Ferdinand Berthoud
(Value : US $ 50,000- 85,000)»
Clocks decorated with porcelain figures of the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI periods can top the US $ 200,000 mark. The most interesting pieces are in fact those which are the most attractive and refined models.
«A rare porcelain and gilt bronze clock
with watch movement with three figures,
a swan and garland of flowers,
circa 1760
(Value : US $ 30,000-50,000)» |
«An exceptional gilt bronze and porcelain clock by Benoist Gerard, Paris,
with an important Meissen porcelain group, Louis XV period
(Value : US $ 32,000- 42,000)» |
FOREIGN CLOCKS :
A STRONG MARKET FOR GERMAN AND ENGLISH PIECES
Apart from French clocks collectors also seek 16th Century German and 17th or 18th Century English time pieces, which also bore testimony of some incredible technological inventions.
It must be stressed that the oldest surviving and working clock is that of the Salisbury cathedral in England dating back to 1386. In France, the clock of Rouen dates back to 1389. During the second half of the 15th Century some gunsmith had the idea to add a spring to the movement of clocks so as to supply them with a driving power though such power was not constant.
A solution was eventually found in winding the spring to a conical piece called the fuse.
In 1658 Huygens invented a rhythm regulator called the pendulum. Before that year a clock would lose or gain one hour a day whereby the pendulum reduced that gap to three minutes per week. Clock makers then designed the escapement, which produced that ticking noise familiar to our ears. Many types of escapements appeared until George Graham designed the cylinder escapement system in 1726 with the introduction of rubies, sapphires, garnets and crystals in movements to reduce wear.
Table clocks made in Augsburg or Nuremberg between 1550 and 1650 matched those produced in France during that period. One should however remember that it is however rare to find a piece with its original mechanism as most clocks were transformed during the 19th Century.
«An important Augsburg gilt-metal,
silvered and silver-mounted quarter
striking astronomical masterpiece table clock, by Johan Gottfridt Haase,
circa 1685.
(Value US $ 700,000-1 million)» |
«A South German copper gilt and ebonised quarter striking
table clock,
monogrammed FGS,
circa 1620
(Value US $ 20,000- 30,000)» |
Table clocks were nevertheless seldom made in England during the second half of the 16th Century but a few interesting pieces were produced under the influence of French Protestants who had fled religious persecutions to seek refuge in London after 1572.
«A highly important and extremely rare
silver and silver gilt musical clock,
3rd quarter of the 16th Century, by an unknown
English maker who possibly worked
with foreign craftsmen in London, the movement
with its long fuses and the verge control
of the carillon train combined with
the days of the week suggesting a French origin
(Value : US $ 500,000-820,000)»
English bracket and long case clocks generally fetch high prices at auction, especially those pieces made by great makers such as Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829) who notably produced observatory regulators, Joseph Windmills, who worked between 1670 and circa 1720 notably producing turntable clocks, George Graham, who conceived stunning bracket clocks, John Grant (1781-1810), who made longcase regulators and the Marwick Markham firm, active during the 18th Century which notably produced musical table clocks.
«A George I silver-mounted striking bracket clock
by George Graham
(Value : US $ 50,000-70,000)» |
A month-going long case regulator
with equation of time, by George Graham, circa 1750
(Value : US $ 50,000-80,000)» |
Among other famous English makers were Stephen Rimbault (Active 1760-1780), who made musical turntable clocks, James Cox ( ?-1788 or 1790), who conceived clocks with automaton, organ and carillon, Thomas Tompion, a great master of the end of the 17th Century, who made repeating bracket clocks, John Ellicott (1706- ?), who made longcase clocks fitted with barometers, George Prior, who was active during the last third of the 18th Century, Justin Vulliamy, a Swiss working in London at the end of the 18th Century, Isaac Nicklas Wells, who produced striking calendar and tidal clocks, John Clowes and Joseph Knibb, who made clocks during the reign of Charles II and Daniel Delander who conceived month going equation calendar clocks at the beginning of the 18th Century.
«A rare large Japanned and decoupage musical
turntable clock
by Stephen Rimbault,
circa 1775
(Value : US $ 27,000-32,000)» 
«An important large ormolu quarter
striking automaton, organ and carillon pagoda clock, with display cabinet,
attributed to James Cox,
circa 1775
(Value : US $ 250,000- 320,000)»
«A magnificent George II ormolu and enamel quarter
striking musical automaton centrepiece table clock
commemorating the Treaty acknowledging the Independence
of the United States, attributed to James Cox and signed
by the enamellist W. H. Craft (Value : US $ 250,000-330,000»
«A William III walnut month longcase clock
by Thomas Tompion,
circa 1700
(Value : US $ 85,000-100,000)» |
«A good George III mahogany longcase clock, circa 1785
(Value : US $ 50,000-60,000)» |
«A magnificent George II Japanned quarter
striking calendar
and tidal clock
by Isaac Nicklas Wells, circa 1750
(Value : US $ 60,000-65,000)» |
«A very rare Charles II Olive wood
marquetry table clock, circa 1675
(Value : US $ 50,000-70,000)»
«A good small Charles II walnut
longcase clock, circa 1685,
by Joseph Knibb with calendar aperture
(Value : US $ 100,000-130,000)» |
«An important month going equation
calendar longcase clock with duplex
escapement by Daniel Delander,
circa 1710
(Value : US $ 72,000-90,000)» |
There were also good timepieces produced elsewhere during the early 19th Century, notably in Belgium where Hubert Sarton (1748-1828) was among the best designers and in Austria where makers were quite active by the end of the 18th Century.
«An important ormolu and black marble
complicated astronomical world-time
skeleton clock by Sarton
(Value US $ 50,000-70,000)»
«An extraordinary carved walnut small
astronomical clock with perpetual calendar,
equation of time, planetarium and orrery
by Joh. Uberbacher, Tirol, mid 19th Century
(Value : US $ 70,000-82,000)»
After 1840, hundreds of makers became increasingly involved in the making of clocks after demands increased constantly.
Despite new inventions, clocks no longer revealed that refinement of the past regarding design, sculpture, forms and gilding.
All the more, many makers went on to produce poor copies of 18th Century pieces which are now worth less than US $ 1,000 on the market.
Now the best way to start a collection is visit museums and dealers first and then attend auctions to have a clear idea of good quality time pieces and selling prices. Adrian Darmon
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