A fine English George I quarter repeating bracket clock in a French Regènce boulle marquetry case, circa 1725, signed “Bunot à Paris”, probably from the workshop of Claudius DuChesne, London
21 in [53.3 cm] H
12 ½ in [32 cm] W
7 in [18 cm] D
This clock is one of a number of spring clocks whose English movements reside in French Boulle marquetry cases. All seem to have been made during a short period of time, in the early Georgian / Regènce period, around 1725. Most of the movements are signed by London makers of Huguenot descent, notably Simon Decharmes, Isaac Duhamel, and Claudius Duchesne. Several important clocks by Thomas Tompion reside in French style cases.
The comprehensive study of 18th century French clock making by Jean-Dominique Augard, (Les Ouvriers du Temps, Geneva: Antiquorum, 1996) and Richard Barder’s monograph on English spring clocks (The Georgian Bracket Clock 1714 - 1830, Woodbridge: The Antique Collector’s Club, 1993) provide the context to appreciate the importance of these clocks |
