A fine gilt giant grande-sonnerie striking and repeating triple-calendar carriage clock with alarm J.C. Ravoux, Paris, dated 1856 The eight-day two train movement with plates measuring 5.75 by 4.125 inches, five and six-spoke wheel crossings to going and strike trains, platform lever escapement stamped RAVOUX twice to the backing plate and jewelled pivots for the contrate and fourth wheels of the going train, the strike train ting-tang striking the quarters on a graduated pair of bells positioned within the base of the case via vertically pivoted blued steel hammer arbors before sounding the hour again at every quarter hour on the larger of the two, the backplate with visible alarm motionwork and central large circular white enamel REVEIL setting dial annotated with twenty-four hour dial 1-12 twice labelled MIDI, MATIN, MINUIT and SOIR and with further vertically pivoted hammer for sounding on the larger of the two bells in the base, the upper left with SILENCE/SONNERIE pivoted strike selection switch, the centre with knurled hand-setting knob over signature FAIT PAR J.C. RAVOUX, and with QUARTIEMME and JOURS calendar setting functions to lower edge beneath, the rectangular white enamel Roman numeral dial signed RAVOUX to centre and with pierced blued steel hands over triple subsidiary day-of-the-week, date-of-the-month and month-of-the-year dials annotated in French and with blued steel arrow pointers to lower margin beneath, the rear of the dial signed Valat, the early-type gilt multi-piece bevel-glazed case with hinged faceted carrying handle over top glass with rounded corners and cavetto cornice incorporating inset rounded angles over caddy moulded uprights, the rear with pin-hinged glazed door, on skirt base with conforming inset rounded angles and pierced sound fret to underside, 20cm (8ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. J.C. Ravoux, the maker of this fine carriage clock is apparently unrecorded, however the signature Valat to the rear of the dial is almost certainly that of Etienne Valat who worked from Rue Montmorency 7, near the shop of Henri Jacot, for whom he also made dials. The current lot is particularly noteworthy for the quality of its construction in particular the provision of five and six spoke wheel crossings and jewelled pivots to the upper of part of the going train. The alarm mechanism is also very well thought-out with the setting dial allowing for sounding once during the twenty-four hour period rather than the usual once every twelve hours. Although the case is of relatively simple design it is again finely made with tight crisp mouldings as well as being very well proportioned, which again adds to the clocks overall restrained but high quality feel.