case with a few veneer repairs, ebonized surfaces with minor wear, back with split at vertical joint, edges of back with strips to compensate for shrinkage, interior of back panel veneer with splits and dried glue run at left, right side glass loose, velvet replaced, dial regilded, and lacking infill in numerals, hands and cartouche with wear to gilding, steel tip of minute hand replaced, movement with repairs to count wheel lever and spring, back cock repaired, minor oxide on steel components, ticking and striking, pendulum replaced, with later key. There are inconsistencies with period practice and methods evident in this piece, but there are other aspects which seem to support an early date of manufacture. Mathurin Souge does not appear in any of the standard horological references listing makers, but he is included in "Archives de l'art Francais", page 103, under "Horlogers", as having his work at the "Maison De La Duchess D'Orleans" (House of the Duchess D'Orleans)
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Mathurin Souge, a Paris, a 17th century French "Hague Clock", the oak and walnut case with burl walnut veneer, the top, base and door with ebonized moldings, the sides having arched windows with ebonized surrounds, and top with two iron loops for hanging, interior of the case back with figured walnut veneers bordered by plain walnut with ebonized string inlay, red velvet lined brass plate with gilt dial and fancy pierced and engraved gilt hands, the minute hand with steel tip, hinged, engraved lambrequin below 6:00, signed "Mathurin Souge, A Paris", and concealing a small aperture allowing access to start the pendulum, 30 hour two train movement powered by a single barrel, and counting the hours on a bell, crown wheel escapement and silk thread suspension with cycloidal cheeks, and decorative, pierced steel levers for strike train warning and locking, and pendulum with heavy, spherical bob. case with a few veneer repairs, ebonized surfaces with minor wear, back with split at vertical joint, edges of back with strips to compensate for shrinkage, interior of back panel veneer with splits and dried glue run at left, right side glass loose, velvet replaced, dial regilded, and lacking infill in numerals, hands and cartouche with wear to gilding, steel tip of minute hand replaced, movement with repairs to count wheel lever and spring, back cock repaired, minor oxide on steel components, ticking and striking, pendulum replaced, with later key. There are inconsistencies with period practice and methods evident in this piece, but there are other aspects which seem to support an early date of manufacture. Mathurin Souge does not appear in any of the standard horological references listing makers, but he is included in "Archives de l'art Francais", page 103, under "Horlogers", as having his work at the "Maison De La Duchess D'Orleans" (House of the Duchess D'Orleans)
