A French gilt brass carriage clock with quarter striking on two bells
ast updated on 16 December 2001 18:39 Clock No: 0580 A French gilt brass carriage clock with quarter striking on two bells in the petite sonnerie manner and grande sonnerie repeat. There is also an alarm. The movement is signed for Detouche at 228-230 Rue St. Martin, Paris. Charles Allix records that Detouche worked in the 1850's in partnership with the eminent Robert Houdin, known for his mystery clocks and the fact that he taught Houdini much of his magic; the student took the master's name. Constantin Louis Detouche exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London, 1852, and won a gold medal at the 1860 Besancon Exposition and a further medal at London 1862. The signature on this clock records the patent (brevete) awarded in 1852. HL Tardy notes in his Dictionnaire des Horlogers Francais that Detouche worked in the Rue St Martin from 1825 to 1870, his business returning there in 1890.The gilt brass gorge case is in excellent original condition and the five glasses are in perfect condition. Gorge cases were only used by the finest makers for their best movements. The platform escapement is of particularly fine quality. The clock comes with its original case which is in superb original condition, with carrying handle intact and both original glass and shutter present.
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