Louis XIV clock

Boulle case (black shell and brass on a wood carcase) with elaborate cast brass mounts, angels etc.. Waisted case surmounted by a brass putto. Shaped glazed door to front with ornate decorative mount incorporating a putto. Dial has 12 separate enamel plaques on a brass background with chased centre and with numbered five minute ring and quarter hour ring as shown by B in many French clocks of this period. The pendulum is a representation of Phoebus (the sun god), a style said to be a tribute to Louis XIV. Size: 24.5 inches high.

This has been "updated" at some time in the past by the addition of an extra train with chain fusee driving a westminster chime on tape gongs.

Clearly a treasured piece, even before I had it, but a few small pieces of boulle work are missing and a little more needs refixing. Otherwise in good condition.

Personally I think the clock is of sufficient quality to date from the reign of Louis XIV even though the chime must have been added much later. I am not an expert but I think all the decoration on the clock and on the back and base of the interior is of Boulle, not contra-boulle, which implies an early clock and/or one of very good quality. I can find no makers mark on the case (such marks were required on french clocks after 1750 according to EJ Tyler in EC and Tyler also indicates that timber cases became much less common by the mid 18thC. Other references to similar clocks: B shows clocks of this general nature and figs 554 and 557 in my edition show undoubted similarities. I should note that my clock has no bracket.