MINIATURE LOUIS XVI MANTEL CLOCK L.s Waltrin A PARIS Ca. 1775 France

M&R74

MINIATURE LOUIS XVI MANTEL CLOCK
Signed: L.s Waltrin A PARIS
Circa 1775
France

Movement
The spring-driven brass movement of this clock consists of going and quarter-striking trains, as well as an alarm. The going train has verge escapement with a short pendulum. The quarter-striking train indicates the hours fully on a bell and the quarters with two strokes on the same bell, which is mounted on the backplate. The alarm is wound by pulling a cord.

Dial
The circular white enamel dial has a black Roman chapter ring, with Arabic numerals for every fifth minute combined with strokes and dots for the minutes. It is protected by a convex glass set in a moulded gilt brass bezel. The time is indicated by a pair of blued steel hands whilst the alarm time is shown by a straight brass pointer. The winding holes are in the middle below the chapter ring and to the left next to the dial. The maker has signed the dial L.s Waltrin A PARIS.

Case
The gilt-brass case has two doors to the sides and a plain door at the back with a pierced floral motif, which functions as a sound fret. The top and bottom have prominent mouldings and the whole rests on four shaped and partly engine-turned feet. The case is surmounted by a brazier with two large handles and laurel swags.

Duration: 1 day

Height: 21 cm.
Width: 10 cm.
Depth: 8 cm.

Literature:
Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, Paris, 1971, p. 651.

The maker:
Louis-René Waltrin was active as a clockmaker in Paris; he worked together with his father from 1771 until 1789 in the rue St.- Antoine. He became ‘Fils de maître’ in 1771.