Rectangular table clock

Historical significance

• Dial signed: FRANCE. Movement engraved: 7997 13 thirteen Jewels one 1 Adjustment CH pour FRANCE.
• The art deco case is made of two distinct kinds of marble: yellow marble with large streaks from the Pyrenees (known as pâté de tête) for the base, and Belgium black marble for the rest.
• The dial is entirely covered with polychrome champlevé enamel, the ends being decorated with polychrome cloisonné enamel motifs. The imitation granite grisaille enamel in the centre is surrounded by beige eggshell enamel, with small white fragments of crushed eggshell in it. The distinctive Arabic numerals are filled with black and reddish-brown enamels, while the two ends of the dial plate have a floral decoration of multicoloured cloisonné enamels, characteristic of the 1920's. The skeletonized hands are blued steel.
• The circular movement, which has an eight-day power reserve, is fitted with a platform escapement with a lever escapement, a three-armed brass balance, and a flat steel balance spring.
• Clocks of this kind often came with two small vases or candlesticks, made from the same materials as the case.

Sources & references

1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. IV-644: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/36481/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.