A FINE FRENCH GILT BRASS GRANDE SONNERIE STRIKING CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH ALARMDROCOURT, PARIS, LATE 19th CENTURYThe eight-day two train movement configured with ting-tang striking for the quarters on a graduated pair of coiled gongs and the hour sounding at every quarter hour on the larger of the two, the going train regulated by silvered platform lever escapement with sprung split bimetallic balance and the alarm sounding on the smaller gong, the backplate stamped with oval D.C. trademark for Drocourt beneath the gong block and numbered 25317 to the lower left corner, the frontplate also with number 1175 to the inside lower edge, the rectangular white enamel Roman numeral dial with blued steel spade hands over Arabic alarm setting dial to the lower margin, the gilt brass cannelee type case with hinged carrying handle over rectangular top glass, trip-repeat button to front rail and channel-moulded uprights, the ogee-outline base with three-position selection lever annotated Full STRIKING/SILENT/FULL STRIKING to underside.14.5cm (5.75ins) high with handle down, 9.5cm (3.75ins) wide, 8.5cm (3.375ins) deep.Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands.Pierre Drocourt is recorded in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development with further additions and corrections from research undertaken by Leigh Extence (available online) as born in 1819 and setting up in business as a clockmaker in Paris in 1853. He initially worked from Rue Limoges (later called 28 Rue Debelleyme after the rationalisation and merger of Streets in 1865), Paris and was succeeded by his son, Alfred (born 1847), in 1872. The blancs roulants, rough movements, were made in Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, a town outside Dieppe, where Drocourt had workshops until their sale in 1904, being premises purchased from Holingue frères in 1875 who had previously supplied Drocourt. The firm was awarded numerous international exhibition medals and mentions including Silver in Paris 1878 and Gold in 1889.