A FINE FRENCH GILT BAMBOO CASED REPEATING ALARM CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH AESTHETIC PORCELAIN PANELS PROBABLY BY A. DUMAS, PARIS, LATE 19th CENTURYThe eight-day gong striking movement with silvered platform lever escapement regulated by split bimetallic balance and sounding the alarm on the same gong, the backplate stamped with oval trademark AD over serial number 1107 to lower left hand corner, the rectangular porcelain dial panel overall painted in polychrome and gilt with asymmetric panels of carp, birds and insects within a cream and gilt trellis field populated with a kingfisher, butterfly inhabiting stylised foliage, the centre with gilt on black Arabic numeral cartouche chapter ring and blued steel hands over conforming alarm setting dial to lower margin, the gilt brass bevel glazed bamboo case with frame modelled to resemble sections of bamboo overlapping at the corners, the top with conforming hinged carrying handle and panel-glazed escapement aperture and the sides inset with additional Aesthetic style porcelain panels matching the dial with arrangement of shaped panels and objects decorated with carp, birds and other motifs within a cream and gilt trellis ground incorporating birds and insects amongst flowering foliage, on integral bamboo stump feet.16cm (6.5ins) high with handle down, 10cm (4ins) wide, 9.5cm (3.75ins) deep.Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands.The identity of the maker who ed trademark A.D within an oval surround is currently unknown however clocks stamped with the same initials but within a diamond lozenge are known to be by A. Dumas who is noted in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development for a relatively small number of clocks bearing low serial numbers and having porcelain dials and panels. Allix also cites Saunier describing A. Dumas as a maker of his own gongs and cases which is of interest bearing in mind that the same oval A.D trademark has been seen on gong blocks ed by Drocourt amongst others. Indeed it is the presence of this mark on the gong block of some of their clocks which has led to the incorrect belief by some that the mark was actually for Alfred Drocourt.The design of the porcelain panels of the current lot draw their inspiration from Japanese art in particular Satsuma pottery. The study and interpretation of Japanese decorative arts was a core element of the Aesthetic Movement which in-turn influenced Orientalist design which became highly fashionable during the latter quarter of the 19th century. Furthermore the 'bamboo' design of the casepliments the Aesthetic feel of the panels resulting in an object which is fully integrated in its visual qualities. A group of timepieces illtrating the variations on the theme of the current lot can be found in Roberts, Derek CARRIAGE and other Travelling CLOCKS pages 172-73 (Fig. 10.16-17).