CONSOLE CLOCK Beliard A Paris Ca. 1745 France

M&R51

CONSOLE CLOCK
Signed: Beliard A Paris
Circa 1745
France

Movement
The spring-driven brass movement is constructed between plates. which are connected by four pillars. It consists of a going train with anchor escapement and a short pendulum, and pull repeat, which indicates the hours on a lower pitched bell and the quarters on two higher pitched bells. It is activated by pulling a cord to the side of the case. The maker has signed the movement on the backplate Beliard AParis.

Dial
The gilt cast brass dial has twelve white enamel cartouches with blue Roman hour numerals. There is a minute track in the gilt brass dial around the cartouches with Arabic five-minute and minute divisions. The field in the centre is embellished by beautifully cast and chased scroll ornaments. The time is indicated by a pair of blued steel hands, the hour hand ending a lovely fleur-de-lis shape. The winding hole is situated above the VI. The clock is also signed on a white enamel cartouche under the dial BELIARD A PARIS.

Case
The waisted oak case is veneered with ‘Boulle marqueterie’ of tortoise shell and brass inlays and is richly embellished with fire-gilt brass ornaments in leaf and vine motifs. The waisted glazed door allows the movement of the pendulum to be seen. The glass is set in a shaped gilt brass frame. At the bottom is an ornament depicting a winged cherub with a scythe. The ‘floor’ in the case is somewhat slanted and has brass inlays in the shape of tiles and a pierced semi-circle. The inside of the backdoor is also embellished by brass inlays. There are arched windows to the sides, whilst the case is surmounted by a putto sitting on a ball. The whole is situated on a shaped bracket produced in a similar style as the clock itself with ‘Boulle marqueterie’. It has two beautiful female heads on the corners.

Duration 1 week

Height 77 cm.
Width 28.5 cm.
Depth 16 cm.

Literature
Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, Paris, 1971, p. 40.