By Michel
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A magnificent, completely restored Louis XV bracket clock by Michel a Dijon, signed on the dial and the time/strike movement. A winged putto in partial drape seated upon the removable architectural top, with two bells concealed beneath. The ornate boulle and brass decorated case is fronted by a pair of figural demi-pilasters having fluted and bellflower pendants. A central arched glazed door opening to an enameled dial and chapters, above a pierced cast brass plaque of robust putti and intertwined foliates. All set on four recumbent figural sphinx figures; raised on a further inlaid shaped plinth with rope trim ending in toupie feet, the back with brass and floral shell inlays. Signed Michel a Dijon on the dial and the time/strike movement.
The clock 's movement is almost certainly original to the clock, given the large square backplate. The escapement is an anchor type, common on Louis XIV clocks of the period. There is a very old key that came with the clock but I can’t say whether or not it is the original key. From my experience with mostly Louis XVI and Empire clocks, the suspension system was often changed from a silk string one to a steel string suspension system, only because silk was not as durable. The pendulum on this clock is most likely a replacement (very normal as they were very easy to lose). Fast/slow is now adjusted at the bottom of the pendulum itself. There are two slightly different size bells attached to a shelf atop the movement activated with springs and levers attached to the movement. Both bells ring the half hour and one bell rings the hour. It keeps perfect time.
Regarding the maker Michel there is virtually no information anywhere on him. His clocks whoever he was are therefore are extremely rare. In a reference book called Encyclopedie de La Pendulum Francaise du Moyen Age au XX siècle by Pierre Kjellberg , there is a photo of a Louis XIV Longcase Boulle Clock made by Michel a Paris. A leading Swiss antique shop called Richard Redding...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Boulle Clocks