Lot 30
A rare mid 18th century French ormolu quarter repeating timepiece, the case marked with the Crowned C poinçon of 1745-49 Moisy a Paris
13 July 2023, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £2,816 inc. premium
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A rare mid 18th century French ormolu quarter repeating timepiece, the case marked with the Crowned C poinçon of 1745-49
Moisy a Paris
The elaborate rococo case surmounted by an eagle, a wing and talon raised as it competes with a dragon below, both animals with finely worked details to the wings, bodies and facial features, over a waisted case cast with sunflowers, pansies and foliage amid an array of C-scrolls and shellwork. The rear door stamped with the Crowned C mark.
The white enamel 4.25 inch dial with black Arabic five-minute numerals encircling the minute band and large blue enamel Roman hours, with floating half hour marks, and pierced gilt hands.
The tapering rectangular movement united by knopped pillars signed along the curved lower edge, with tic-tac escapement sounding the hours and quarters past the hour on the pull of a cord set to the side of the case. Sold together with an associated late 19th century (?) inlaid kingwood and brass-mounted plinth 40cms (15.75ins) high.
The elaborate rococo case surmounted by an eagle, a wing and talon raised as it competes with a dragon below, both animals with finely worked details to the wings, bodies and facial features, over a waisted case cast with sunflowers, pansies and foliage amid an array of C-scrolls and shellwork. The rear door stamped with the Crowned C mark.
The white enamel 4.25 inch dial with black Arabic five-minute numerals encircling the minute band and large blue enamel Roman hours, with floating half hour marks, and pierced gilt hands.
The tapering rectangular movement united by knopped pillars signed along the curved lower edge, with tic-tac escapement sounding the hours and quarters past the hour on the pull of a cord set to the side of the case. Sold together with an associated late 19th century (?) inlaid kingwood and brass-mounted plinth 40cms (15.75ins) high.
Footnotes
Jean Moisy was active in Paris in the mid 18th century. He was known to supply watch movements to Lazare Duvaux, who at the time was jeweller to the king. The first reference to Moisy is in 1753, when he submitted his chef-d'oeuvre, though the exact nature of this piece is unknown. At the time, he was working on the Rue de l'Arbre-Sec, where he would remain until 1755. Two years after his masterpiece was accepted, he moved to the Quai Malaquais, staying there until 1766. After 1766 it is not clear where he moved, but in 1772 he is recorded working at Place des 4-Nations. He is last noted working here in 1781, after which all record of him ceases; this year is tentatively suggested as the year he died, though this is not confirmed. On at least one clock, he signed his name, followed by the title Horloger de la Duchesse du Maine, though how he came by the title, or when, is not known.
Tardy (1971) Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français. Paris: Tardy, p. 457
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