Beschreibung:

A FINE FRENCH NAPOLEON III PERIOD GILT BRONZE MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, AMARANTH AND SYCAMORE MONTH GOING REGULATEUR, THE CASE BY WASSMUS FRERES A PARIS, CIRCA 1860, THE DIAL SIGNED DUBUISSON In the Louis XVI style, the case with stepped cartouche-shaped hood above a serpentine trunk with a lenticle and pedestal base inset with trellis-parquetry reserves and mounted with mercurial gilded ormolu mounts, the dial and movement of earlier date, the white enamelled dial with Roman numerals, signed below the VI by the enamellist Dubuisson and for the clockmaker 'Bourdier horloger Mecanicien a Paris', with gilt, pierced and chased hands and a blued steel centre seconds hand, the movement going for between five and six weeks on a single wind, with pin-wheel escapement, centre seconds and maintaining power, the plates united by four large baluster pillars, the massive pendulum with lenticular brass-faced bob and steel rod, 216 cm high x 47 cm wide x 21.5 cm The movement is ticking but not fully tested or guaranteed. This fine regulator clock was assembled by the celebrated cabinet-maker ebeniste, Henri-Leonard Wassmus. It appears that the high quality movement was ordered for the case by Wassmus and re-uses an extremely fine late 18th century dial by Dubuisson signed for Bourdier, Paris. It may well have been a special commission from an important client who wished to have their movement and dial re-housed in this extremely fine and ornate case. The firm Wassmus Frères was established in Paris in 1810 and was fêted for high quality furnishings in the 18th century taste. From 1853 the business traded from 146, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis supplying furniture to European nobility and contributing to the Paris Exhibitions of 1855 and 1867. Wassmus was cabinet maker to Napoleon III, and commodes by Wassmus in Louis XVI style furnish the Hotel Marigny in Paris and the bedroom of Napoleon III at the Elysee Palace. Etienne Gobin, known as Dubuisson (b. 1731 d. after 1815) was one of the two greatest dial painters of the Louis XVI period the other being Joseph Coteau (1740-1801). Born in Lunéville, Dubuisson worked as a porcelain painter in his hometown, in Strasbourg, and at Chantilly. Like Coteau, he was employed at the Sèvres Royal Porcelain Factory, 1756-9, as a flower painter, specializing in enamelling watchcases and clock dials. During the 1790’s he was recorded in the rue de la Huchette and later circa 1812 at rue de la Calandre. His name is associated with the finest clockmakers of his day, in particular Bourdier and Louis XVI’s favourite clockmaker, Robert Robin