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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Dieppe, Rotterdam, France, Netherlands · c. 1640–1719

Charles Bloud

Partially verified

Maker of ivory sundials

Life & work

Born in Dieppe around 1640, Charles Bloud was a specialist maker of sundials during a period when the city was renowned for ivory craftsmanship.

He married Marthe Marie Gaudin and likely fathered three children, including a son also named Charles. In 1685, he fled France for the Netherlands following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and established himself in Rotterdam. While living in Rotterdam, he maintained contact with other expatriates and artisans such as Jean Le Grand.

Bloud eventually returned to Dieppe, where he passed away in 1719.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • Bloud was recognized as one of the prominent specialists in the production of sundials in the city of Dieppe.

Documented works

  • An ivory folding sundial by Bloud is held in the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon in Dresden.
  • The British Museum houses four of his sundials in its collection.
  • Another example of his work is preserved at the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Charles Bloud. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

12345let downstripcleanoilregulateorder of work; never skip letting down the mainspring
Schematic: order of work at the bench. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Bloud, Charles, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03

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