A RARE FRENCH GILT BRASS MINIATURE CARRIAGE TIMEPIECE WITH FINE FLORENTINE PIETRA-DURA PANELS THE DIAL SIGNED FOR H. BOZI, FLORENCE, LATE 19TH CENTURY The rectangular eight-day single train movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with number 6216 to the lower left-hand corner of the backplate, the rectangular white enamel Roman numeral dial with blued steel spade hands and signed H. BOZI, FLORENCE to lower margin, the frosted gilt corniche case of Mignonnettes No. 1 size with hinged carrying handle and bevelled top glass over cavetto cornice and caddy moulded uprights, the sides and rear door with fine Pietra-dura panels depicting floral still lifes including roses and fuchsia blooms, on moulded skirt base. 7.5cm (3ins) high handle down, 5cm (2ins) wide, 4.5cm (1.75ins) deep. Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands. The current clock would appear to belong to a small group of carriage clocks incorporating fine foliate decorated pietra-dura panels which appear to have been made in a Florentine workshop. Others include a mid-size clock with alarm and push button repeat which was sold at Christies, King Street, London Important clocks and marine chronometers 20th February 2008 (lot 11) for £3000; another is pictured in Roberts, Derek CARRIAGE and Other Travelling CLOCKS pages 156 (Figure 9-33 a-d); a third example, by Drocourt, is illustrated in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development, (this time housed in an anglaise riche case) on page 180 (Plates VII/C13-14); and finally an example, also signed for Bozi, Florence, was sold in these rooms on 21st April 2021 (lot 112) for £2,800 hammer. It is perhaps appropriate to surmise that as many examples from this series are signed for H. Bozi of Florence it is likely that the panels for these were made in the city by workshops principally under this makers/retailer's direction to decorate clocks supplied by Parisian makers - perhaps mainly for retail in Florence to wealthy visitors continuing in the tradition of the 'Grand Tour'. Miniature carriage clocks are called Mignonnettes or 'little darlings' and come in three graded sizes with No. 1 being the smallest.
A RARE FRENCH GILT BRASS MINIATURE CARRIAGE TIMEPIECE WITH FINE FLORENTINE PIETRA-DURA PANELS THE DIAL SIGNED FOR H. BOZI, FLORENCE, LATE 19TH CENTURY The rectangular eight-day single train movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with number 6216 to the lower left-hand corner of the backplate, the rectangular white enamel Roman numeral dial with blued steel spade hands and signed H. BOZI, FLORENCE to lower margin, the frosted gilt corniche case of Mignonnettes No. 1 size with hinged carrying handle and bevelled top glass over cavetto cornice and caddy moulded uprights, the sides and rear door with fine Pietra-dura panels depicting floral still lifes including roses and fuchsia blooms, on moulded skirt base. 7.5cm (3ins) high handle down, 5cm (2ins) wide, 4.5cm (1.75ins) deep. Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands. The current clock would appear to belong to a small group of carriage clocks incorporating fine foliate decorated pietra-dura panels which appear to have been made in a Florentine workshop. Others include a mid-size clock with alarm and push button repeat which was sold at Christies, King Street, London Important clocks and marine chronometers 20th February 2008 (lot 11) for £3000; another is pictured in Roberts, Derek CARRIAGE and Other Travelling CLOCKS pages 156 (Figure 9-33 a-d); a third example, by Drocourt, is illustrated in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development, (this time housed in an anglaise riche case) on page 180 (Plates VII/C13-14); and finally an example, also signed for Bozi, Florence, was sold in these rooms on 21st April 2021 (lot 112) for £2,800 hammer. It is perhaps appropriate to surmise that as many examples from this series are signed for H. Bozi of Florence it is likely that the panels for these were made in the city by workshops principally under this makers/retailer's direction to decorate clocks supplied by Parisian makers - perhaps mainly for retail in Florence to wealthy visitors continuing in the tradition of the 'Grand Tour'. Miniature carriage clocks are called Mignonnettes or 'little darlings' and come in three graded sizes with No. 1 being the smallest.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
