A FINE FRENCH ENGRAVED GILT BRASS GORGE CASED GRANDE SONNERIE STRIKING ALARM CARRIAGE CLOCK Attributed Henri Jacot, Paris for retail by J. Klaftenberger, London, circa 1865 The eight-day two train movement configured with ting-tang striking for the quarters on a graduated pair of bells and the hour sounding at every quarter hour on the larger of the two, with regulation by gilt platform lever escapement with sprung split bimetallic balance and alarm sounding on the smaller bell, the inside of the frontplate stamped 670 and the backplate stamped with further number 765 to lower left and engraved J. KLAFTENBERGER, 157 REGENT STREET to bottom margin, the dial with fine foliate scroll engraved rectangular mask enclosing circular white enamel Roman numeral circular insert inscribed J. KLAFTENBERGER, 157 REGENT STREET to centre and with blued steel moon hands over conforming subsidiary alarm setting dial to lower margin, the engraved gilt brass gorge case with hinged carrying handle over rectangular top glass within repeating swag border over foliate panel engraved panel bands to top mouldings and channel-moulded uprights, the ogee-outline base further engraved with panels of fruiting foliate and swags, the underside with CLOCK/SILENT/QUARTERS strike selection lever. 14.5cm (5.75ins) high with handle down, 9.5cm (3.75ins) wide, 8.5cm (3.375ins) deep. Details such as the straight uprights of the handle, rectangular top glass set into an engraved surround, panel decoration to the upper and lower rails, and the design of engraving to the dial mask can be directly compared to an example by Henri Jacot illustrated in Roberts, Derek CARRIAGE and other TRAVELLING CLOCKS an page 148 (Figure 9-18). The escapement platform can also be closely compared to one fitted to a grande sonnerie clock by Jacot (number 825) which is illustrated in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKs, Their history and development on page 114 (Plate V/14). Henri Jacot is recorded by Allix as working from 31 Rue de Montmorency, Paris as well as possibly having a factory in Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont. The business was awarded Bronze Medals at the Paris 'Exposition' in 1855 and in London 1862; Silver in Paris 1867, 78 and 89 and Gold, again in Paris, 1890. Although Charles Allix notes that Henry Jacot senior died in 1868 and was succeeded by his nephew of the same name further research by Leigh Extence has revealed that after his death Henri's business was actually continued by his brother Julien who was essentially only 'keeping the bench warm' until his son, and Henri's nephew Albert, was able to take over and move the concern forward in 1874. The business is thought to have continued until around 1920. The highly regarded retailer of clocks, watches silverware and objet d'art, Charles Ignaz Klaftenberger, was born in 1802 and entered into partnership with D.F. Aubert in 1835. The firm were appointed watchmakers to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and traded from retail premises at 157 Regent Street, London. They exhibited at the 1851 Great Exhibition and the partnership appears to have lasted until 1863 after which it would appear that Klaftenberger worked alone until 1881. Klaftenberger only sold the finest carriage clocks supplied by the best makers such as Drocourt and Jacot, with the current lot being a fine example almost certainly supplied by the latter. Condition Report: The movement is in clean fully working condition with no evidence of alteration or significant replacements (including the strike selection switch to the underside which works correctly). Indeed the only (very minor) fault is that the alarm hand does not release the mechanism at the correct time (releases when set around three-hours ahead of the time on the dial). The dial is in fine condition with no visible faults to the enamel of the principal dial; the subsidiary alarm dial has a hairline crack through the centre. The mask is in good condition with only slight overall 'mellowing' to the gilding. The case is also in fine condition with no visible chips to any of the glasses and only slight mellowing/discolouration to the gilding in places. Clock has a winding key. Condition Report Disclaimer