p161 Sold

c.1815 Rare French Great-Wheel Skeleton Clock with Balance Wheel - SOLD

Period French

Inv. #: p161

Circa: 1815

Size: Clock 14.25 x 9.25Case – 19.25 x 12

Sold

A very rare c.1815 French inverted-y frame great wheel skeleton clock with large second beating balance wheel and sweep-second hand in a glazed purpose made case.

Dial

The white porcelain chapter-ring dial has Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic 15-minute marks, steel Breguet-style hands and a sweep second’s bit.

Movement

The exceptional eight-day movement has an extremely thick inverted-y shaped framework with heavy pillars.  The outstanding finely-cut and finished wheelwork has double screwed collets and spokes terminating in hoops. The rack-lever pin-wheel escapement has a second beating balance wheel, incorporates Lepaute’s pallet arrangement, is set for beat by a threaded weight, has a pivoted fast/slow arm that engages the balance spring and has steel end-caps on the two top wheels. The whole stands on an ormolu mounted white marble base and is protected by a purpose made glazed case.