Mn-Hs-Je Systeme Fc-Mt-Brevete Paris – Clockmaker
Ernest Rancoulet (1870-1915) – Sculptor

The patinated metal male figure carries a hammer on his shoulder, stands upon a rockwork base and holds the clock with his outstretched arm. The base is signed ‘Rancoulet’ to the side, has a scroll inscribed with ‘Dictum Patria’ pierced by a giant sword, has another title scroll inscribed with ‘Pax Labor Par Rancoulet’ along the front and sits on a red variegated base.

The eight-day timepiece with a torsion suspension is housed in a decorative gilt-bronze engine-turned sphere with silvered engraved appliques, applied Roman numerals, gilt-bronze hands, a cover for the winding arbor and is engraved ‘Mn-Hs-Je Systeme Fc-Mt-Brevete Paris’. Mounted to the silvered shaft above is an elaborate regulation system with two large balls that can be screwed out and in to adjust the fast/slow. The clock rotates side to side while running.

For more information on torsion clocks see:
‘Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks’ by Derek Roberts, pg. 131.

For this exact clock see:
Sotheby’s New York, Meraux Collection, 1993, Lot 85.