Y A FRENCH LOUIS XV BOULLE BRACKET CLOCK Charles Voisin for Charles Beauvillain, Paris, mid 18th century The two train going barrel movement with four shouldered baluster-turned pillars pinned through the backplate enclosing large diameter spring barrels and five wheel trains, the going train with verge escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum, the strike train with vertical hammer arbor and numbered countwheel mounted to the right of the backplate over signature Charles Voisin, AParis to lower margin, the 8.5. inch circular twenty-five piece cartouche numeral dial with convex white enamel centre inscribed CH'LES BEAUVILLAIN, A PARIS within chapter ring with blue-on-white enamel Roman hour numerals within rococo borders and further Arabic five minutes cartouches to outer track, with sculpted blued steel hands, the engraved cut brass and brown shell marquetry decorated waisted case with substantial surmount cast as winged Chronos to the concave-sided superstructure veneered with leafy scroll decoration and applied with foliate mounts to angles over generous leaf cast arched cornice, the front with brass-framed arched glazed door enclosing marquetry decorated floor and back panel to interior and incorporating cast panel with two putti to apron, the surround decorated with leafy scrolls within line border, the sides now veneered in rosewood with recessed arched windows within herringbone cast brass surrounds over hipped swollen base sections, on generous scroll cast feet with foliate apron between. 77.5cm (30.5ins) high, 33cm (13ins) wide, 13cm (5ins) deep. Provenance: The property of a private collector, north London. Charles Voisin is recorded in Tardy DICTIONAIRE DES HORLOGERS FRANCAIS as becoming a Master in 1710; that he was working from Rue Dauphine in 1726 and died in 1760. The Getty Museum website notes Charles Voisin as born into the Parisian middle class in 1685 and that his uncle was a gardener to the king, a position with a comfortable livelihood and some standing in society. Voisin amassed a significant fortune and raised the social position of his children. His daughters all married into prestigious families, and his youngest son was made one of the king's personal valets, which raised him into the nobility. Charles Beauvillian is recorded by Tardy as becoming a Master in 1733 and that he worked from Rue Dauphine 1743-48. By 1772 he had moved to Rue des Grands Augustins and again to Rue du Cimetiere, Saint Andre by 1778. When considering the working dates of both Voisin and Beauvillian it would be logical to surmise that the current clock was most likely made between 1743 and 1748 as it was during this time period that both makers' workshops were located on Rue Dauphine. Condition Report: The movement has survived in original condition with no visible significant alterations or replacements. The pendulum suspension has been changed from silk to spring requiring the tip of the original backcock to be adapted. The mechanism is generally dirty/neglected however the trains are in sound condition and will 'run'. The hour hammer extension piece is missing. The dial has noticeable chipping to the II, V, and VII numerals as well hairline cracks to IIII, V, and VII. The outer five minute cartouches have small cracks or chips to 5, 10, 20, and 35. Three have been entirely repaired by filling and overpainting (15, 25 and 45), 40 and 60 have been part repaired. The hands appear original and undamaged but have surface corrosion; the dial casting has some oxidation/discolouration otherwise is in good original condition. The case is can be best described as being in 'country house' condition with historic repairs to the marquetry with losses and lifting most evident to the left hand side of the superstructure. The sides have been later veneered (probably during the 19th century) in rosewood which now has some shrinkage cracking and lifting. The front upper door hinge is incomplete. Internally the rear door has some lifting and repairs to the veneers to the lower right and the base panel has some lifting mainly to the borders. Generally otherwise case has bumps, scuffs, shrinkage and other age related faults throughout as well as some historic worm holes (not active); the mounts are also dirty/discoloured. Clock has pendulum and a case key but no winder. Condition Report Disclaimer