France, an unusual, champleve enamel decorated, pillars style hour repeating carriage clock, the gilt case with outset corners, turned feet and columns, the base, frieze, and top with scrolling foliate designs, and decorated with polychrome enamel colors

France, an unusual, champleve enamel decorated, pillars style hour repeating carriage clock, the gilt case with outset corners, turned feet and columns, the base, frieze, and top with scrolling foliate designs, and decorated with polychrome enamel colors on a turquoise ground, the front of base with engraved presentation "Sir Donald Currie, K.C.M.G., M.P. In Remembrance of a Pleasant Cruise in the Pembroke Castle, Septr. 1883, from J.C.", Arabic numeral champleve enamel dial with fine engraving and matching the exterior colors, blued steel distaff hands, two train movement with lever platform, striking the hours and half hour in passing, and repeating the last hour on demand dirty, with losses to gilding and minor staining, portions of case with a layer of gold paint, glasses good, all enamel good, movement dirty, running, striking, and repeating correctly, hands not synchronized with striking, some hammer lifting pins bent, occasionally blocking hammer, gong with spots of oxide. Sir Donald Currie (1825- 1909) was a 19th century shipping magnate, first working for Cunard Shipping Co., and in 1862 founding the Castle Shipping Co. In his later life, he gave generously to education and other worthy causes. The Pembroke Castle 2 was finished in July of 1883, and spent part of that year carrying dignitaries around Britain, and also to Copenhagen, where the Tsar and other royals were received on board. The best known of these voyages was one taken to Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in September, 1883, on which Currie hosted and entertained 29 members of various European royal families, Prime Minister Gladstone, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. It appears that this clock was gifted following this voyage. Further research may reveal the identity of J.C.