Beschreibung:

A French Louis XIV 'Religeuse' Boulle table clock Antoine Gaudron Paris, circa 1680 The rectangular twin barrel movement with four shouldered baluster turned pillars pinned through the backplate signed Gaudron AParis to lower margin, the going train now regulated by anchor escapement with short heavy disc bob pendulum, the strike train with scroll pierced detent gates and high position countwheel for sounding the hours and half hour on a bell mounted behind the superstructure of the case, 8.25 by 6 inch dark green velvet covered arched dial plate with fine foliate scroll pierced and engraved gilt brass hands and applied with silvered Roman numeral chapter ring incorporating cruciform half hour markers and every minute numbered to outer track, the lower margin applied with a gilt brass mount with central oval reserve engraved Gaudron AParis flanked by trumpeting female terms, the red stained tortoiseshell and cut brass marquetry veneered case with arched tympanum applied with tight ebony mouldings to upper margin enclosing geometric lattice and floral motif marquetry infill and flanked by brass flambé finials over conforming ebony cornice and arch glazed front door applied with raised gilt brass moulding to aperture within surround decorated with marquetry lattice panels incorporating interlaced scroll motifs to upper quadrants, the sides with applied ebony band bordered arched windows within brass line-bordered multi-panel surround, the rear with plain rectangular ebonised oak door, on ogee moulded skirt base applied with shaped scroll decorated marquetry lambrequin apron to front and with gilt brass compressed bun feet, (movement with losses), 37cm (14.5cm) high to apex of tympanum. Antoine Gaudron is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working from around 1675. In 1689 he was established at Place Dauphine at 'La Perle' and then at 'La Renommee' in 1709. He died a wealthy man in 1714. A closely related clock by Gaudron is illustrated in Plomp, Reinier Early French Pendulum Clocks 1658-1700 pages 69 (plates 121 and 122). Both the current lot and the example illustrated by Plomp share the same marquetry border design to the front door and divided panel infill to sides hence both were clearly made by the same cabinetmaker who is referred to by Plomp as 'different from most other clocks'. The current lot is notable in that the proportions are a little smaller than normal and the case exhibits refinements such as arch-glazed front door and marquetry lambrequin panel to the front apron. Condition report disclaimer