Beschreibung:

A FINE GILT BRASS REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK INSET WITH LIMOGES ENAMEL PANELS GAY, LAMAILLE AND COMPANY, PARIS, FOR RETAIL BY HARDY BROTHERS, SYDNEY, LATE 19th CENTURY The eight-day two train gong striking movement with silvered platform lever escapement regulated by sprung split bimetallic balance and stamped with oval PATENT SURETY ROLLER to centre of the backplate over further oval G.L trademark and serial number 235 to lower left, the rectangular frosted gilt dial with recessed Roman numeral hour disc, blued steel spade hands and inscribed HARDY BROS., SYDNEY to lower margin set within a canted surround, the frosted gilt case with ring decorated hinged baton carrying handle over bevelled top glass, architectural cornice and scribed line panel decorated corner uprights, the sides intricately decorated with full length portraits of a Renaissance nobleman and opposing female companion in ornate robes with details picked-out in translucent enamel on a deep maroon almost black ground, the rear with bevel-glazed door, on skirt base with ovolo over canted top mouldings and pad feet. 16.5cm (6.5ins) high with handle down, 10cm (4ins) wide, 9.5cm (3.75ins) wide. Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands. The firm of Gay, Lamaille and Company and their patent for the 'surety roller' is discussed by Thomas R. Wotruba in his article The story behind PATENT SURETY ROLLER stamped on carriage clocks published in ANTIQUARIAN HOROLOGY June 2017 2019 (pages 239-47). Moritz describes how the Patent Surety Roller (a mechanism which prevents the strike star wheel from accidentally jumping out-of-sync whilst the clock is being transport) was invented by Moritz Immisch for which he received a brevet in 1979. The patent was subsequently secured by Messrs Gay, Lamaille and Company of Paris and London. One of the firm's founders, Emile Gay(e), is recorded as working at 20 Red Lion Square, London in 1861before going into partnership with a clockmaker named Vicarino and setting up operations at 5 rue Beranger, Paris. In around 1877-78 George Lamaille replaced Vicarino forming Gay, Lamaille and Company who through their strong connections with London supplied many of the leading English retailers such as Dent, Frodsham and Lund & Blockley during the latter years of the 19th century. Hardy Brothers were founded in 1853 and are one of Sydney's premier jewellers and retailers of luxury goods and watches. They have also served and held Royal Warrants for all Monarchs since King George V. The exquisite side panels of the current lot are textbook examples of the finest enamel-work produced in the Limoges workshops during the second half of the 19th century. The Renaissance subject matter along with the colour palette (in particular the dark ground) revives the style for which the region became particularly well-known for during the 16th Century. Indeed the popularity and re-establishment of the Limoges enamel workshops during the second half of the 19th century was born out of a deep appreciation for the Renaissance originals which had become highly prized by connoisseurs earlier in the century. As often the case with French revivalist art the intention was to match (or even if possible exceed) the quality of the originals hence there was generally a 'no expense spared' approach to execution in order to achieve this objective. The panels of the current lot carefully and cleverly employ a mixture of opaque and translucent enamels to create depth, texture and lustre which varies under different lighting conditions. Some areas in particular, such as the areas representing silk within the garments of the figures, use the finished ground of the metal plate to great effect by allowing reflected to pass through vibrant pigmented transparent enamel surface layers.