A fine late 19th Century French Carriage Clock with Grande Sonnerie striking, Repeating, Date and AlarmLamy Fils, Paris The case decorated allover with engraved scrollwork and surmounted by a delicately moulded handle above a large glass observation panel and repeat button, with ball shaped finials and elaborate brass pillars framing the glazed front and foliate scroll pierced side frets with deep blue glass backings, the solid rear door with a spring latch, on a plinth base and squat button feet. The white enamel Roman and Arabic dial with trefoil hands above subsidiary Arabic calendar and alarm dials, all framed by an brass mask with fern and flower engraving. The three spring barrel movement with extravagant Swiss lever escapement jewelled throughout and balance wheel having regulation weights and timing screws with the back plate stamped with French indications for hands, type of striking desired and the maker's name; the striking occurring on two bells and two hammers, with the alarm train using a separate hammer. Ticking, together with a double-ended winding key. 19.5cms (7.5) highFootnotesThe name 'Lamy Fils' was used after 1881, following the dissolution of a partnership between the Lamy family and the Lacroix family which had lasted for over half a century. This partnership first began in 1828 between Pierre Hyacinthe Lamy, the son of a spectacle manufacturer, and Pierre Cyprien Lacroix, a well established horologist. The partnership was originally created for the manufacture of spectacles frames, however, by 1855 60% of their 500 strong workforce was engaged in making horological products. This same year saw the partnership expand to include cutlery fabrication and goldsmithing. In 1858, the partnership was branded and registered; using 'Lamy & Lacroix' for Morez (where Aimé Lamy was mayor between 1852-1870) and 'Lacroix et Lamy' for Paris. These brands were renewed in 1874 by Lacroix's grandson. By 1861, the partnership was making spectacles, comtoise clocks, regulators, tower clocks, domestic clocks, watches, microscopes, optics, etc. The partnership began to experience financial difficulties in 1870 and they focused more attention to the luxury end of their operations, employing a specialist team of 20 watchmakers. By 1870, over half of their revenue was coming from goldsmithing. Still in financial difficulties, the decision was made not to invest in updating the machines used in the various factories, and the partnership increasingly could not compete with other brands. The partnership was formally dissolved in 1881. After its dissolution, the six children of Aimé continued as the 'Les Fils d'Aimé Lamy' manufacturing a wide range of products, including clocks. Many of them began to establish their own individual brands, or formed partnerships between each other. This resulted in confusion with the Lamy name, and their catalogues tried to clarify the issue by printing at the bottom 'Because of the number of similar names in use, please address all letters to M.M. Les Fils d'Aimé Lamy, manufacturers, Grande Rue 167, Morez'[Trans.]. The business increasingly focused on spectacles and related products eventually focusing on this exclusively in the 20th century and forming FIDELA (Les Fils d'Aimé Lamy), which is still a spectacle manufacturer today. Monot, P. (2004-2010) Lamy & Lacroix Available at: https://www.horloge-edifice.fr/Horlogers/Lamy_et_Lacroix.htm Two similar carriage clock cases may be seen in Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks by Derek Roberts; the first by Jules on pg. 76 described as having blue glass sides and the second, on pg. 243, by Lamy and Lacroix.
A fine late 19th Century French Carriage Clock with Grande Sonnerie striking, Repeating, Date and AlarmLamy Fils, Paris The case decorated allover with engraved scrollwork and surmounted by a delicately moulded handle above a large glass observation panel and repeat button, with ball shaped finials and elaborate brass pillars framing the glazed front and foliate scroll pierced side frets with deep blue glass backings, the solid rear door with a spring latch, on a plinth base and squat button feet. The white enamel Roman and Arabic dial with trefoil hands above subsidiary Arabic calendar and alarm dials, all framed by an brass mask with fern and flower engraving. The three spring barrel movement with extravagant Swiss lever escapement jewelled throughout and balance wheel having regulation weights and timing screws with the back plate stamped with French indications for hands, type of striking desired and the maker's name; the striking occurring on two bells and two hammers, with the alarm train using a separate hammer. Ticking, together with a double-ended winding key. 19.5cms (7.5) highFootnotesThe name 'Lamy Fils' was used after 1881, following the dissolution of a partnership between the Lamy family and the Lacroix family which had lasted for over half a century. This partnership first began in 1828 between Pierre Hyacinthe Lamy, the son of a spectacle manufacturer, and Pierre Cyprien Lacroix, a well established horologist. The partnership was originally created for the manufacture of spectacles frames, however, by 1855 60% of their 500 strong workforce was engaged in making horological products. This same year saw the partnership expand to include cutlery fabrication and goldsmithing. In 1858, the partnership was branded and registered; using 'Lamy & Lacroix' for Morez (where Aimé Lamy was mayor between 1852-1870) and 'Lacroix et Lamy' for Paris. These brands were renewed in 1874 by Lacroix's grandson. By 1861, the partnership was making spectacles, comtoise clocks, regulators, tower clocks, domestic clocks, watches, microscopes, optics, etc. The partnership began to experience financial difficulties in 1870 and they focused more attention to the luxury end of their operations, employing a specialist team of 20 watchmakers. By 1870, over half of their revenue was coming from goldsmithing. Still in financial difficulties, the decision was made not to invest in updating the machines used in the various factories, and the partnership increasingly could not compete with other brands. The partnership was formally dissolved in 1881. After its dissolution, the six children of Aimé continued as the 'Les Fils d'Aimé Lamy' manufacturing a wide range of products, including clocks. Many of them began to establish their own individual brands, or formed partnerships between each other. This resulted in confusion with the Lamy name, and their catalogues tried to clarify the issue by printing at the bottom 'Because of the number of similar names in use, please address all letters to M.M. Les Fils d'Aimé Lamy, manufacturers, Grande Rue 167, Morez'[Trans.]. The business increasingly focused on spectacles and related products eventually focusing on this exclusively in the 20th century and forming FIDELA (Les Fils d'Aimé Lamy), which is still a spectacle manufacturer today. Monot, P. (2004-2010) Lamy & Lacroix Available at: https://www.horloge-edifice.fr/Horlogers/Lamy_et_Lacroix.htm Two similar carriage clock cases may be seen in Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks by Derek Roberts; the first by Jules on pg. 76 described as having blue glass sides and the second, on pg. 243, by Lamy and Lacroix.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
