Beschreibung:

A FINE FRENCH GILT BRASS ANGLAISE RICHE CASED PORCELAIN PANEL INSET MINIATURE CARRIAGE TIMEPIECE THE PANELS BY LUCIEN SIMONNET PARIS, LATE 19th CENTURY The rectangular eight-day single train movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with number 1782 to the lower left-hand corner of the backplate, the rectangular porcelain dial with musical trophy decorated centre to the white Roman numeral chapter ring and blued steel hands set within a polychrome painted Middle-Eastern landscape depicting a Mosque and minarets beside a lake, the anglaise riche case of Mignonnette No. 3 size with hinged reeded-baton centred carrying handle and bevelled top glass over moulded cornice with fluted frieze and Corinthian three-quarter columns with plain shafts to angles, the sides with finely painted porcelain panels depicting three-quarter length portraits of women in romanticised Middle-Eastern dress before buildings and incorporating monogram LS to lower right hand corners, the rear with bevel-glazed door, on ogee-outline base with pad feet. The clock 9cm (3.5ins) high handle down, 5.3cm (2.125ins) wide, 4.5cm (1.75ins) deep. Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands. The work of Lucien Simonnet (1849-1926) is discussed by Larry L. Fabian in his article Carriage Clock Porcelain. Artistic pedigrees hiding in plain view published in ANTIQUARIAN HOROLOGY December 2019 (pages 501-13). Simonnet was a Sevres trained painter of porcelain who appeared to specialise in producing the finest figural panels often based on works by well-known artists of the period. Fabian highlights three examples with three-quarter portrait panels after Emile Vernet-Lecomte and Charles Louis Muller executed in the romantic historic Middle-Eastern 'Orientalist' style. A fine grande-sonnerie striking carriage clock with push-button repeat and alarm also incorporating painted porcelain panels by Louis Simonnet was sold in these rooms on 24th June 2020 (lot 131) for £4,500 hammer. Miniature carriage clocks are called Mignonnettes or 'little darlings' and come in three graded sizes with No. 1 being the smallest. Condition Report: The movement appears all original, the spring is wound and the balance wheel free to oscillate however the clock is not running most likely due to the escapement itself been 'gummed-up' with old lubricant. The mechanism is generally a little discoloured neglected and there are a couple of drops of congealed oil on the backplate. The dial is free from noticeable damage although the centre appears to show some very light rubbing to the glaze. The case is generally in fine condition with minimal wear to the gilding and the glasses appear free from visible damage including corner chips. Both side panels appear free from visible damage however the left hand panel appears to have received some very slight restoration (retouching) to the rear edge adjacent to the corner pillar shaft probably to address some slight edge chipping. Timepiece does not have a winding key. Condition Report Disclaimer